Article Posted on : - Mar 23, 2010

A File Photo of Indo-US combat exercise Yudh-Abhyas 2009. A PTI Photo.

CHANDIGARH (PTI): The 14th annual meeting of the Indo-US Army Executive Steering Group (ESG), to coordinate various joint-training events between the two Armies, began Monday.

The four-day meeting began at Headquarters, Western Command at Chandimandir near here amid a "friendly and cordial atmosphere", a defence spokesman said.

The ESG meetings are held at venues alternating between India and the US, to coordinate various joint-training events between the two Armies.

The 14-member US delegation is led by Lt Gen Benjamin Randy Nixon, Commanding General, United States Army Pacific, the spokesman said.

Earlier, the delegation team attended a wreath laying ceremony held at 'Veer Smriti', the Western Command War Memorial and Lt Gen Nixon paid homage to the martyrs.

Gen Nixon later met Western Army Commander Lt Gen Shankar Ranjan Ghosh at his office and interacted on various aspects of common interest.

India and US are planning to hold a joint combat exercise called `Shatrujeet' in California this April. Earlier, India hosted the largest-ever ground combat exercise with US, called `Yudh Abhyas', at Babina last October.