Indo-US jt exercise in counter insurgency operation

Kolkata, Aug 17 (UNI) An Indo-US joint exercise with a focus on small team operations in counter insurgency environment in jungle and semi mountain terrain will be conducted at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare (CIJW) school in Mizoram from August 23 to September 15.

The joint exercise is part of Indo-US defence co-operational friendship facility between the two countries, a defence release said.

The present Indo-US exercise named ''Ex-Vajra Prahar'' will be the fourth of its kind since April 2003.

The defence co-operation joint exercise is aimed at increasing the interoperability between the two forces.

''Modern militancy has become a complex phenomenon. The globalised world is now matched by a globalised militant ideology. We need to tackle the menace of terrorism globally and hence the joint training is a step in global war on terrorism,'' said the defence officials.

''The US army is keen to learn from Indian army's experience in combating insurgency from the last 50 years,''they said.

UNI