Armies 'mixed' to avoid competition during exercises

{image-joint exercise_24122007.jpg news.oneindia.in}Kunming (China), Dec 24: The Indian contingent and soldiers of the Peoples Liberating Army (PLA) China, were ''mixed'' to avoid any competition between the two, said Col J S Budhwar. Talking to the sources, he said the idea was to provide them an opportunity to get close and and learn about each other. ''Had we kept them as separate units in the academy here, they would have developed ''sense of competition, '' he added. Explaining how the main aim of the joint exercise (JE) was being realised, he said now as they were ''one'', every drill and exercise was being carried out jointly. ''This has helped them tremendously and soldiers understand each other,'' the Col informed.

Asked how Indian soldiers were responding to the joint training of the two armies, he said every single thing was being done as programmed and Indians were happy to be a part of it. He also expressed satisfaction over the entire process saying, ''It might be a small beginning but surely a step forward.''

UNI