India and Russia flagged off the eighth edition of their joint military exercise in Vladivostok on 23 September 2016. Interestingly, some Russian troops arrived in Pakistan on the same day for the first-ever Pakistan-Russia joint military exercise.
The focus of the Indo-Russian joint military exercise was on counter-terror operations.
The ‘Indra-2016’ exercise is being held in the Ussiriysk district and the main focus of this edition of the joint drills is on ‘Counter-Terrorism Operations in semi mountainous and jungle terrain under United Nations Mandate’.
Indian Army tweeted out pictures of the military exercise in Russia.
A comprehensive training programme spanning 11 days has been drawn up for the purpose, the Indian Army said in a statement.
Both countries are old strategic allies and India is one of the largest purchasers of Russian defence equipment as well as defence technology.
Around 70 soldiers from a mechanised infantry unit of the Russian military arrived in Pakistan to participate military drills between the two former Cold War rivals.
The Centre had expressed concerns over the drill in Pakistan as it was reported to be held in Gilgit Baltistan, a part of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan.
The Russian Embassy in India has, however, clarified that reports of drills with Pakistan in PoK are false, adding that the only venue of drills is Cherat, which is in the Nowshera District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan.
The embassy called earlier reports “erroneous and mischievous”.
Brigadier Sukrit Chadah is leading the Indian contingent of 250 soldiers from the Kumaon Regiment while the Russian army is being represented by 250 soldiers from the 59th Motorised Infantry Brigade.
Meanwhile, India is also engaged in a military drill along with the United States America in Uttarakhand.
(With inputs from PTI and The Indian Express.)
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