Armies of India, Uzbekistan to recreate Kashmir-like counter terror operations in joint drill Dustlik

New Delhi, Mar 9: With an aim to recreate Kashmir-like counter-terror operations, the armies of Indian and Uzbekistan will be part of a joint exercise Dustlik between March 9 and 21 in Chaubatia near Ranikhet in Uttarakhand. The Uzbekistan Army contingent arrived in Delhi on Monday morning.

 

 

 

The second edition of exercise Dustlik is aimed at carrying out joint counter-terror operations in a mountainous rural and urban scenario. The settings will be as close to operations in Kashmir. "The exercise will strengthen mutual confidence, inter-operability and enable sharing of best practices between the armed forces of India and Uzbekistan," the Indian Army said.

 

 

Intelligence-based surgical operations, special forces tracking techniques, surveillance through a hi-tech command post, slithering operations from helicopters will be some of the key elements of the exercise. “Avoiding collateral damage as most of the areas in Kashmir where operations are carried out are residential is also part of the exercise,” said an official.

 

The Indian Army is being represented by 13 Kumaon known as the Rezang La battalion famous for its heroics in the battle of Rezang La in 1962 war with China.

 

 

The growing military relations with Uzbekistan are part of military diplomacy keeping in mind its connectivity to Afghanistan and Iraq important for India to counter Pakistan and in wake of China’s Belt and Road Initiatives.

 

 

The first edition was conducted in November 2019 near Tashkent in Uzbekistan. The training was focused on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in the urban scenario as well as sharing of expertise on skills at arms, both combat shooting and experiences in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism.

 

 

The exercise also provided an opportunity to armies for greater cultural understanding, sharing experiences and strengthening mutual trust and cooperation. After intense military training, the joint exercise concluded with both armies exhibiting their combat power and dominance over the extremist groups.