R Kharmujai

Umroi, Dec 8: Indian and Chinese military authorities began their joint exercise here at the state-of-the-art Joint Training Node at Umroi Cantonment, about 25 km from Shillong on Saturday.
The annual exercise titled “Hand-in-Hand 2019”, with the theme of counter-terrorism under a United Nations mandate will conclude on December 20. A total of 130 troopers of the People's Liberation Army led by Colonel Hu Chunguang of 1st Infantry Battalion, Tibet’s military command and the Indian contingent led by Colonel K.J. Singh are taking part in this eighth edition of the exercise. “The exercise this year is special as it is the 70th  year  of diplomatic ties between India and China. It will demonstrate the historic relationship between two countries and help in growing bilateral relations,” General Officer  Commanding Red Horns Division, 
Major General Deepak Mehra said while welcoming the Chinese troopers.“ It will  further deepen people to people interaction between academics, forces, youth organizations and the political class of both the countries,” he said. “Both the counties have agreed to maintenance peace and tranquility at the border as it is essential for development of both countries,” Mehra added. During the 14-day exercise, the Indian and Chinese armies will be engaged in a joint military exercise that will involve tactical-level operations in  semi-urban terrains for an international counter-terrorist operation. The focus of the initial four days  will be on orientation to training area, lectures on counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism environment, firing by each other’s weapons, improvised explosive device drills etc.
“We would surely learn from each other and evolve practice and drills besides rehearsing established joint command and control structures,” Colonel Singh said. “The terminal aim  is to evolve and develop high degree common combat compatibility and synergy to conduct successful counter-terrorism operations in future,” he remarked. Echoing his Indian counterpart, Colonel Chunguang said that the two contingents will learn different tactics together to improve counter-terrorism capabilities.

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List