India is set to host its first multinational military exercise called "Force 18" with 18 of the ASEAN Plus countries in participation in Pune. The "Force 18" will be held from March 2 to March 8. It will be inclusive of the ASEAN countries and the Plus countries like US, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea.
The field training exercise (FTX) is focused on humanitarian mine action (HMA) and peacekeeping operations (PKO) with the main intention being able to "learn and share" some of the best practices from the armies of the world, while displaying the "commitment for peace and stability in the region," Col Rohan Anand, SM, the Defence PRO, was quoted saying in a press release.
According to one of the officers, the exercise will build upon the commonality in the techniques as per the UN peacekeeping guidelines.
About 25 trainers from the ASEAN Plus countries have already arrived in Pune for the training with the Indian Army for a week starting Feb. 24. This sort of training is necessary to overcome language barriers, and put them on optimum threshold level and would help in formulation of the common operation procedures for various activities during the mega exercise.
