India-US to conduct joint counter-terror exercise

The joint counter-terrorism exercise next month will further enhance their interoperability at the functional level.

Close on the heels of a similar effort in Hawaii, Indian and US military forces are to conduct another joint counter-terrorism exercise next month to further enhance their interoperability at the functional level.

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Set in an urban/semi-urban insurgency environment, Exercise Shatrujeet is scheduled to be conducted at Belgaum in Karnataka Oct 25-Nov 3.

"The exercise would focus on evolution of joint drills and refining field craft, battle craft, drills and procedures in counter terrorist operations," a defence ministry statement said.

The US forces comprise a company of the US Marines Corps with a participating strength of 160 soldiers, including 145 combatants and 15 administration and support staff. A similarly sized company of the Punjab Regiment will participate from the Indian side.

Among the subjects to be covered during the exercise would be techniques, tactics and procedures for conducting counter terrorist operations, organisational structure of Indian infantry and US Marine Corps Battalions, confidence and survival training, combat shooting, rock climbing, security of operating bases, astral navigation, unarmed combat, familiarisation with improvised explosive devices, and room shooting.

Also on the agenda are intercommunication and radio telephony procedures, suicide terrorism and human bomb philosophy, human rights issues in counter terrorist operations, house clearance/room intervention drills, establishment of outer and inner cordons, search of built up areas, ambush/counter ambush actions and quick reaction team actions and drills.

Indian and US forces had conducted a similar exercise in Hawaii last month.