China, India Conclude Joint Anti-Terror Military Training With Comprehensive Drill

China, India Conclude Joint Anti-Terror Military Training With Comprehensive Drill

(NSI News Source Info) BELGAUM, India - December 13, 2008: Chinese and Indian troops completed their anti-terror military drill Friday at 10 a.m. of local time, one hour earlier as scheduled. Lieutenant General Ma Xiaotian, head of the Chinese military observer delegation and deputy chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army of China, declared conclusion of the joint training at the closing ceremony, saying the drill was "successful and effective". The seven-day joint anti-terror military training included display of weapons and equipment, communication of tactics, joint training and the comprehensive drill. It's the third and also the last stage of the joint anti-terror military training between the two sides from Dec. 6 to 12. In Friday morning's drill, Chinese and Indian soldiers began to cordon and search for the "terrorists" in villages after marching to the target area overnight. The scenario of the drill was set as that a group of "international terrorists" secretly entered into two villages in the forest of northwestern Belgaum. The anti-terror soldiers had to "catch or kill" them without hurting innocent villagers. The troops first searched one village, "shooting to death" one "terrorist" and arresting two. After interrogation of the two "terrorists", the company got the information that six to eight "terrorists" along with their "zonal commander" were hiding in two double-storied buildings in another village. The commanding officer immediately sent two MI-8 helicopters with a quick action team to the village. Soldiers slithered down the helicopters rapidly. After searching and fighting, they "killed" six "hard-core terrorists including the zonal commander" and recovered large quantity of arms and ammunition. Ma said that the joint training marked the continuous progress the Chinese and Indian armies have made in communication and cooperation. "It showed the resolution of the two sides to safeguard regional peace and stability and create a harmonious environment for development together," Ma said. The Indian military attache in China G. Jaishankar said that the joint training "marked a new step in the bilateral military cooperation". Lieutenant General Noble Thamburaj, general officer commander in chief of the Southern Command of the Indian Army, told a press conference held after the ceremony said the joint training has proved the professional competence of both the contigents.

Chinese and Indian soldiers attend the comprehensive drills of the "Hand in Hand 2008" China-India army joint anti-terrorism training in Belgaum of India, Dec. 10, 2008. The training sessions of the joint anti-terrorism training went on smoothly. During the sessions, the soldiers will train in anti-terror shooting and raids, exchange views on anti-terror theories and civilian and judicial issues, and carry out comprehensive drills with the theme of closing, controlling and searching

He said the experience gained during this joint training would help both the armies to develop a common perspective on tackling the menace of international terrorism. "It has instilled confidence in each other's capabilities to tackle the common threat of terror," he said. "The biggest impact of this joint training will be on future relations on our two countries," he said. The two armies held their first joint anti-terrorism military training in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province last year. Senior Colonel Tian Yixiang, head of the Chinese military experts group, said compared with the "Hand-in Hand 2007", learning from each other is a significant part of this year's joint training. In order to achieve this goal, the soldiers from two countries were mixed into different groups, listened to lectures together, held discussions, and learned to use weapons of each other, Tian said.

Chinese and Indian soldiers attend the comprehensive drills of the "Hand in Hand 2008" China-India army joint anti-terrorism training in Belgaum of India, Dec. 10, 2008

"We've learned a lot from the experience they gained from practical anti-terror battles and they appreciated the strong mind and good tactics of our side," he said.