New Delhi. 15 Nov 2016. India China Joint Training Exercise, Exercise “Hand in Hand 2016” is beginning from today. The exercise is in continuation of the series of joint exercises between India and China. This will be the sixth joint training exercise by the Indian Army with People’s Liberation Army of China and is held annually, alternately, in India and China. The first exercise was held in China at Kunming of Yunnan province in the year 2007 and the last exercise was also held in Oct 15 in Kunming Military Academy, Yunnan Province in China.
The aim of the joint training is to share the expertise in drills and practices while tackling insurgency and terrorism, thereby promoting healthy military to military relations between the two armies and developing joint strategies for conducting operations in a counter terrorism environment. Forming part of the different levels of the military to military engagement across the entire spectrum of operations, this exercise will enrich the two contingents in further honing basic military skills. The exercise is planned at the company level with respective battalion headquarters controlling the training. The exercise is supervised by a Joint Directing Panel comprising senior officials of both the nations.
Exercise Hand in Hand 2016 will be conducted in three phases. The first phase of the exercise consists of familiarization with the weapons and equipment. Thereafter, the second phase consists of the conduct of basic training that includes Combat Conditioning, firing of personal weapon, support weapon and practice of drills like establishment of covert observation post, house clearing, cordon & search and humanitarian and disaster relief operations. The third phase of the exercise is the conduct of joint exercise.
Exercise Hand – in- Hand contributes immensely in developing mutual understanding and respect for each other’s military. The exercise will be attended by the senior military observers of both the countries.
