India, China to start joint military exercise Sunday

In continuation of the series of joint training exercises, the Indian Army will take part in a drill with the People's Liberation Army of China from Nov 16 in Maharashtra.

"The exercise between India and China is all set to commence at Aundh Camp in Pune, Maharashtra," a defence ministry release said.

This will be the fourth joint training exercise between Indian and China. The second edition of the exercise was held in Belgaum in 2008 while two more exercises were conducted in China in 2007 and 2013.

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

It said the 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 training and manoeuvres, to be conducted at Aundh military cantonment, are to be supervised by a joint directing panel comprising senior officials of both the nations," it said.

Helicopters of the Indian Air Force will also be taking part in the various manoeuvres planned in the exercise.

Senior military observers of both the countries will be attending the opening ceremony scheduled to be held at Aundh military station Nov 17.