Indo Sri Lanka joint military exercise Mitra Shakti 2017 from 13-25 October

Mitra Shakti 2017, the two-week-long joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka will begin on 13 October in Pune, according to Indian officials.

The joint exercise between India and Sri Lanka to build Military to Military co-operation and interoperability will be conducted at the Aundh Military Camp in Pune from 13 to 25 October.

This will be the fifth joint training exercise between the two Armies. Mitra Shakti joint exercise started in 2012 is held in India and Sri Lanka alternatively. The fourth edition of Mitra Shakti was held at the Sri Lanka Army Sinha Regimental Centre, Ambepussa last year.

The training exercise is considered an important effort in India’s response to China’s growing influence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, according to the Express News Service.

Indian Army officials said the aim of the 14-day joint exercise is to exchange the best of military practices of the two countries and build a strong military-to-military relation between the two armies. The exercise also aims at developing joint strategies by sharing the expertise of conducting operations, especially in the counter-insurgency and counter terrorism (CI and CT) environment, said an official.

The training module will include weapons training, basic military tactics and complex battle strategies.

Senior military observers of both countries will be attending the Final Tactical Exercise scheduled to be held at the Aundh Military Station on 25 October.