A fourteen days counter terrorism joint training exercise “PRABAL DOSTYK – 2017” between the Indian and the Kazakhstan Armies has begun in Bakloh garrison of Himachal Pradesh.
A spokesman of the Army said here on Friday that the joint exercise is aimed at enhancing the military ties between the two countries as also at achieving interoperability between the two armies.
The training contingents comprise of a platoon strength from 3rd Battalion of the 11th Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army and a similar strength of the Kazakhstan Army.
Senior military observers of both countries will also witness the validation phase of the joint exercise.
The aim of the joint exercise is to acquaint both forces with each other’s operating procedures in the backdrop of counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations under UN mandate.
The overall aim is to enhance the existing military relationship between the Indian Army and the Kazakhstan Army and achieve synergy for joint conduct of operation as and when the requirement arises.
The Kazakhstan Army contingent landed at Gaggal Airport in Kangra on 1 November. The exercise commenced yesterday with a grand opening ceremony that saw both the contingents gearing up for two weeks of intense training in counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations.
Personnel of both contingents were hopeful of a fruitful learning experience and were sanguine that the two weeks of training would go a long way in enhancing ties not only between the two armies but also between the people of the two great nations.