The fourth edition of joint training exercise between India and Indonesia, the Garuda Shakti IV, will be hosted by Indonesia. The 13-day long joint exercise will begin from March 10 and will end on March 23 and will be held at Magelang, Indonesia.
The Indian Army is sending a platoon strength contingent that will be training with the Airborne battalion of the Indonesian Army. The Indian army contingent that is heading to Indonesia has "operational experience in Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorist operations in the Northern, Western and Eastern theatres," according to a press release.
The modalities of the exercise were agreed upon at a conference in September 2015 in Indonesia.
The focus of the exercise will be on a joint counter insurgency operation with the setting of both rural and urban scenarios. The exercise will "enhance" the abilities of both the armies to undertake counter insurgency operations under the United Nations Charter.
Both the armies expect to learn from each other's doctrines, tactics and experiences in such operations. The exercise is expected to identify the areas of expertise, evolve combat tactical drills for such operations and undertake combines training for a threat neutralisation, the press release added.
Senior officers from the army and civilian dignitaries from both the countries will be part of the closing ceremony.
The Garuda Shakti military exercises are part of the Indo-Indonesian military diplomacy. The first such exercise was conducted in 2012. The intention of the exercise is to build and promote positive relations between the armies of India and Indonesia.
