India, China hold first military exercise in Ladakh
India and China on Wednesday conducted the first ever military exercise in eastern Ladakh, the theatre of regular friction between the armed forces of the two nations.
The day-long exercise assumes significance as part of the 1962 Sino-India battle was fought in the same area. The two neighbours share a disputed boundary known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Friction between the border guarding and patrolling forces from the two sides is a regular affair in the region. The Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise simulates an earthquake striking an Indian border village, following which joint teams carry out rescue operations, evacuation and render medical assistance.
The Indian contingent was led by Brig R S Raman, while the Chinese side was headed by Sr Col Fan Jun. “The exercise was a great success and has not only refined the drills to provide succor to the border population in case of a natural calamity, but has also increased the level of trust and cooperation between the two border guarding forces along the LAC in eastern Ladakh,” said an Indian Army spokesperson.
This is the third HADR exercise between the two neighbours and the first one in Ladakh. The exercise is a sequel to a similar one held on February 6 in Chusul sector on the Chinese side of the LAC.
The Chusul Garrison of the army and Chinese troops from the Moldo Garrison participated in the February event. The first such exercise took place in Sikkim in 2015. The HADR drill comes a month before the two armies are to be engaged in a counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism exercise in Pune.
The November 15-27 Hand-in-Hand engagement between Indian and Chinese troops comes in the wake of opening up a new border personnel meeting point at Daulat Beg Oldie in Ladakh.
(Source : deccanherald.com)
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