Article Posted on : - Aug 05, 2012

A file photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Aiming at sharpening their counter insurgency skills and enhancing training infrastructure for UN peacekeeping missions, Mongolian Army will participate in joint exercises with its Indian counterpart at Belgaum in Karnataka from August 6.

The Mongolian Army will be represented by 38 personnel and for over 10 days they will participate in several counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations in Belgaum, Army officials said.

Codenamed as 'Nomadic Elephant', the exercise will focus specially on the needs of peacekeeping missions under the UN flag and will help in increasing the coordination and understanding between troops of the two nations, they said.

The infantry exercise will see participation of 44 specially selected troops from the Jat Regiment.

Besides the UN peacekeeping missions, the eighth round of joint exercise will also aim at conducting special sessions to modernise Mongolian defence establishment.

Defence cooperation and relations between the two nations have seen a steady growth over the last decade with the first joint exercise in 2004. For the last few years, the joint drills are being held every year, officials said.

In 2005 the joint drills were held at the Mizoram-based Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) at Vairnagte and in 2008 it was conducted in Mongolia.

Besides the joint exercises, the two nations have also successfully been conducting visits and exchanges of senior military officials.