Aizawl, Mar 2 : Learning from each other's experience
of tackling insurgents and terrorism, Indian and Indonesian
armies today concluded their week-long joint drills
in Mizoram.
The first-ever platoon-level joint training exercise
between the two armies -- codenamed 'Exercise Garuda Shakti'--
was held at Mizoram-based Counter Insurgency and Jungle
Warfare School (CIJWS).
It was conducted in two parts- indoor training sessions
and outdoor validation drills codenamed Chakravyu in Mizoram’s
Lushai Hills, army officials said today.
Troops from Indonesian National Army were led by Lt Col
Gatot Heru Puana of KOSTRAD (Indonesian Army’s Strategic
Reserve Command), while men from 19 Madras Regiment, currently
deployed in counter terrorism operations in the northeast
sector, comprised the Indian side.
Praising the skills of Indonesian troops, CIJWS Commandant
Maj Gen A K Sen said they matched the skills of their Indian
counterparts.
"They are very sincere, devoted, well-prepared and eager
to learn. The visiting troops were put through a rigorous
initiation process, and they fared as good as their Indian
counterparts," Sen said.
For proper assimilation of nuances of counter insurgency
and jungle warfare, all training and attack drills were
coordinated by having two mixed platoons of KOSTRAD soldiers
and Indian troops, overseen by senior military observers, the
officials said.
Praising the professionalism of the Indian soldiers, Lt
Col Gatot observed that the Indian troops were very well
equipped to fight insurgency.
While finding some of the training tactics very similar,
he said the concept of 'Buddy' system was something they would
like to emulate in their Army.