Amidst the ongoing military confrontation with China and Pakistan, India has decided to take part in combat drills with armed forces personnel with both the countries in a multi-nation exercise being organised by Russia next month.
This will be the first time that troops of the two countries will see each other in a friendly exercise since tensions began along the LAC in Ladakh early May.
A tri-Service Indian contingent of around 200 officers and troops will take part in the Kavkaz 2020 (Caucasus 2020) “strategic command-post exercise”. The exercise will take place in the Astrakhan region of south Russia from September 15 to 26, as per the report by TOI.
India’s participation in the exercise has amazed some countries. China, in fact, is learnt to be sending a large contingent, along with three ships, for the exercise.
“But it’s not as if our troops are going to exercise with just Chinese and Pakistani soldiers. It’s a multilateral exercise being hosted by Russia, with participation from at least 18 countries,” said a senior officer.
In all, 13,000 troops will participate in the exercise, sources in the defence establishment said.
Along with India, china and Pakistan Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Syria, Iran, Egypt, Belarus, Turkey, Armenia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are also set to take part in Kavkaz 2020.
The Russian Embassy in India has tweeted that almost a month before the Kavkaz 2020 kicks off, “VI international military forum Army-2020 – first major defence expo this year – opened near Moscow. 1,500 companies, over 28,000 pieces of hardware and weaponry, 18 foreign delegations. Indian delegation is led by Raj Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production in India. Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Raj Kumar and Ambassador inaugurated the India Pavilion at #Army2020 outside Moscow and visited other pavilions showcased at the exhibition, including #IndiaRussia #Brahmos JV pavilion.”