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Indo-UK Joint Exercises to Focus on Training in Super High Altitude Areas

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Sept 18: The Indian army said the joint exercises between the elite soldiers of India and United Kingdom is to focus on training in super high altitude areas.

An Indian army spokesperson in Srinagar, Lt Col A K Mathur said, "As part of the training co-operation between the armed forces of Britain and India, a company of UK Marines is jointly training in high altitude warfare in the Ladakh Himalayas in Kashmir along with one company of Indian Army paratroopers. The exchange has been planned to focus on training in super high altitude areas".

The Indian army spokesperson said that the joint training is being conducted over a period of five weeks in Ladakh. "Initially the two companies would be out through the paces of the acclimatization process for the troops to get used to the rarified atmosphere at these altitudes. A four week rigorous training program would follow this stage", he said.

Highlighting the importance of the joint exercises, he said, "The primary objective of the joint training is to understand each others' strengths while operating in terrain with rugged ridges reaching heights of 20,000 feet plus interspersed with hazardous glaciers. Understanding the capabilities of weapons and equipment held by the two armies forms an essential part of this interaction. Firing with each others' weapons would also be a major highlight of the training. The training will also expose the British troops to the extremely low temperatures in the Ladakh region".

He said that the joint training is conducted by instructors trained in the High Altitude Warfare School, Sonamarg in specialized aspects such as rock-craft, snow and glacier operations. "The Indian paratroop company would share its experiences of operating in some of the world's most difficult areas including the highest battlefield with the British, while the British are likely to respond by highlighting their recent battle experiences. Both the companies are expected to immensely benefit from the expertise acquired by the other in the conduct of operations in such a terrain", the Indian army spokesperson added.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.