Indo-Seychelles Joint Training

Exercise Lamitye

The seventh Indo- Seychelles joint training exercise in the Lamitye series was conducted between 15 and 28 February 2016 at Victoria, Mahe Island, Seychelles, with an aim to improve interoperability between both armies in joint counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations. The Indian contingent comprised an infantry platoon and representatives from the Special Forces. The Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) was represented by the Tazar Special Forces unit and Seychelles infantry. Exercise Lamitye, which means ‘Friendship’ in Creole, has been a bridge between the Armed Forces of India and SPDF since 2001.

The exercise culminated in a large scale field training operation called ‘Sea Hunt,’ involving cordon and search operations enmeshed with hostage rescue and anti-piracy tasks at Cape Ternay, with realistic scenarios extending over two days in an urban insurgency environment.

Multinational Field Training Exercise FORCE 18

would build common understanding and interoperability amongst the 18 participating countries. Over 80 senior foreign officers and Indian dignitaries from the MoD and MEA attended the closing exercise of FORCE 18 on 7-8 March 2016.

Indo-Nepal Exercise Surya Kiran IX

The Indo-Nepal Combined Military Training Exercise Surya Kiran IX was conducted between 8 and 21 February 2016 at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. An Infantry battalion under the Indian Army’s Panchshul Brigade and the Shree Rudra Dhoj Battalion of the Nepalese Army participated in the exercise. Soldiers familiarised themselves with weapons and equipment used by both countries, and analysed groupings, drills and tactics while operating in a counter terrorism environment. The exercise also included training for area domination, cordon and search, seek and destroy and also aspects of disaster management.

The joint exercise gave the two armies “an excellent opportunity to understand and learn from each others’ experiences. They were