The Indian Army on Wednesday began its largest exercise with the United States forces to train for counter-insurgency operations in urban areas at a military base in Hawaii.
A 140-strong Indian contingent is participating with troops from the 25th Infantry Division of the US Pacific Command in Yudh Abhyas 06-02, the second training exercise of its type this year, officials of the US embassy said.
Twenty Garud commandos of the Indian Air Force are part of the contingent. This is the first time that members of this special force have joined an Indo-US exercise. "This is the biggest exercise between US forces and the Indian Army," said an official.
The training, being held at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, will focus on counter-insurgency operations
in urban areas like cities and include live firing exercises. It will end on September 23, the officials said.
The Indian forces flew to Hawaii in an Il-76 aircraft, whose crew is expected to participate in separate air-lift missions at Hickam airbase. In view of the separate exercise by the Air Force, Yudh Abhyas 06-02 is being referred to as a 'joint exercise,' the officials said.
Besides the exercise, Indian troops are engaged in other interactions with US forces. Maj Gen Mukesh Sabharwal, the additional director general of military operations, will attend the Pacific Army Management Seminar in Fiji next week. Two Army Aviation Corps pilots are currently training on US Army helicopters like the Kiowa and Black Hawk at the Wainwright base in Alaska, the officials said.
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