Pune to host India-China 'Hand-In-Hand 2016' joint training exercise

The India-China Joint Training Exercise "Hand in Hand 2016" will be held in Pune from November 15 to 27.

The exercise is in continuation of the series of joint exercises between India and China. This will be the sixth joint training exercise between the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army of China and is held annually, alternately, in India and China.

The first exercise was held in China at Kunming in Yunnan province in 2007. The last exercise was held in October 15, 2015 at the Kunming Military Academy in China.

The aim of the joint training is to share the expertise in drills and practices while tackling insurgency and terrorism, thereby promoting healthy military to military relations between the two armies and developing joint strategies for conducting operations in a counter terrorism environment.

Forming part of the different levels of the military to military engagement across the entire spectrum of operations, this exercise will enrich the two contingents in further honing basic military skills. The exercise is planned at the company level with respective battalion headquarters controlling the training. The exercise is supervised by a joint directing panel comprising senior officials of both the nations.

Exercise 'Hand in Hand 2016' will be conducted in three phases. The first phase of the exercise consists of familiarization with weapons and equipment.

The second phase will consist of basic training that includes combat conditioning, firing of personal weapon, support weapon and practice of drills like establishment of covert observation post, house clearing, cordon and search and humanitarian and disaster relief operations.

The third phase of the exercise is the conduct of joint exercise.

Exercise Hand-in-Hand contributes immensely in developing mutual understanding and respect for each other's military. The exercise will be attended by the senior military observers of both countries.