Indo-US military exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' concludes

The two-week-long Indo-US joint military exercise, being conducted at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand, concluded on Tuesday.

The exercise included a Company Group from an Infantry Battalion of the Indian Army and 5th Battalion 20th Infantry Regiment of the US Army, an army release said.

The release further said: "The exercise was 12th in the Yudh Abhyas series, which started in the year 2004 under US Army Pacific partnership programme. Exercise Yudh Abhyas strengthens and broadens interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and US armies. It is the third Indo-US Army exercise and complements number of other exchanges and exercise between the forces."

Speaking to both contingents on the successful conduct of the exercise, Major General R.K. Raina of the Indian Army congratulated them and said Indo-US friendship is steadily rising. "The bonhomie shown by both contingents further reinforces it and paves the way for a strong and irrevocable strategic partnership," he said.

Major General Thomas James of the US Army in his address said that "our army-to-army relationship has never been stronger and this exercise provides us a great way to build upon that strong relationship between our armies, by enhancing interoperability, strengthening cooperation and increasing readiness".

The release further said: "Over the years, the two countries have decided to progressively increase the scope and content of the combined exercise and Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2016 has witnessed a Brigade Headquarter-based Command Post Exercise, an Infantry company carrying out Field Training Exercise and discussions on issues of mutual interest by experts of both countries."

The exercise provided an ideal platform for the personnel of the two countries to share their experiences on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations, especially in the mountainous terrain, said the release.

--IANS

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