As part of their security cooperation, India and Japan will conduct a joint military exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ at counter-insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte, from 19 October to 2 November.
Twenty-five soldiers each from the Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces (JGSDF) will participate in the exercise with an aim to share experience gained during various counter-terrorism operations in respective countries, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday.
Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ is an annual training event which is being conducted in India since 2018. Notably, in the series of military training exercises undertaken by India with various countries, this particular exercise with Japan is crucial and significant in terms of security challenges faced by both the nations in the backdrop of global terrorism.
The scope of this exercise covers platoon-level joint training on counter-terrorism operations in the jungle and urban scenario.
The joint military exercise will enhance the level of defence co-operation between the Indian Army and the JGSDF which, in turn, will further foster bilateral relations between the two nations, the ministry said.