India-Thailand military exercise begins in Himachal

Shimla: A 14-day joint military training exercise between India and Thailand started in Himachal Pradesh on Monday, a defence official said.

The joint exercise of the Indian Army with the Royal Thailand Army commenced at Bakloh in Chamba district, the official said.

The aim of this exercise is to build and promote closer relations while exchanging skills and experiences between the two armies.

"Exercise Maitree 2017 is a continuation of a series of joint exercises between the Indian Army and the Royal Thailand Army. The previous edition of the exercise was held at Krabi in Thailand in 2016.

"It will be conducted in a manner so as to acquaint both contingents with each other`s operating procedures in the backdrop of counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism environment," an official statement said.

The Maitree series of bilateral exercises has been one of the major defence cooperation initiatives between India and Thailand.

Earlier, a joint training exercise between the Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman, named Al Nagah-II 2017, was held at Bakloh in March.