JOINT DRILL BETWEEN INDIA, OZ ARMIES TO START TODAY

IN RAJASTHAN

NEW DELHI: The armies of India and Australia are set to conduct joint training exercise “Austra Hind 22” at the Mahajan field firing ranges in Rajasthan from November 28 to December 11, the army said in a statement on Sunday. The statement said that the drills are aimed at deepening interoperability and also strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries. “This is the first exercise in the series of Austra Hind (drills) with participation of all arms and services contingent from both armies,” an army spokesperson said on the eve of the drills. The drills coincide with an ongoing bilateral army exercise, “Yudh Abhyas”, between the Indian and US armies in Uttarakhand.

The aim of “Austra Hind 22” is to build positive military relations, imbibe each other’s best practices, and promote the ability to operate together under a UN peace enforcement mandate, said the spokesperson. The Australian contingent includes soldiers from the 13th Brigade of the 2nd Division, while the Indian contingent includes troops from the Dogra Regiment, according to the statement.