Indo-US drill under LEMoA from September 14

From September 14 the experiences of battle-hardened Indian soldiers tackling insurgency and terrorism in Kashmir, northeast and elsewhere will blend in with the combat knowledge of American soldiers fighting similar elements across the restive expanses of Afghanistan and Iraq.

The 14-day key annual joint exercise named “Yudh Abhyas” will take place in the undulating hills and lush green jungles of Chaubatia near Ranikhet where about 200 Indian soldiers will train with around 200 US soldiers. India and the US take turns to host the exercise.

While the first edition of the exercise took place in 2004, what will make this edition of ‘Yudh Abhyas’ significant is the fact that it will be the first joint exercise after the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (Lemoa) has been inked between the two biggest democracies on August 29 in Washington DC.

The idea is to train together in situations of low-intensity, counter-insurgency operations, civil assistance missions and quick-reaction team operations.

“The scope of ‘Yudh Abhyas’ is to undertake counter insurgency and counter terror operations under the UN mandate. Both countries will deploy more than a company’s strength of men and command and control elements from a brigade headquarter,” a defence official familiar with the development told this newspaper.

“Besides interoperability of sub-unit drills relating to tactics that counter insurgency and terror, the basic idea is to promote understanding, bonhomie between the men, and to establish enduring partnerships,” the official said indicating that the increasing warmth and closeness between the two powers should percolate down to the lowest levels.

Other tactics will include “peacekeeping operations, combined maneuvers and also swapping-out troops within formations.”

LEMOA establishes basic terms, conditions, and procedures for reciprocal provision of logistic support, supplies, and services between the armed forces of India and the US. The pact will have much more import for the Air Force and the Navy than the Army.

Reciprocal logistic support would be used exclusively during authorized port visits, joint exercises, joint training, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.