SHILLONG: The first ever India-Myanmar exercise based on UN Peace Keeping Model was kick-started at Joint Warfare Centre in Umroi Cantonment on Monday with an aim to build and promote closer relations while exchanging skills and experiences between the two armies.
A total of 15 officers from Myanmar army and 16 officers from the Indian Army are taking part in the six days India-Myanmar Bilateral Army Exercise (IMBAX), which is slated to go on till Saturday.
Maj. Gen. P.S. Behl, GOC, Red Horns division said that India had been a major contributor to peace keeping and had varied experience in various peace keeping missions.
“Myanmar which is quite new to the mission wants to participate in these operations and has come to learn and train with us,” he said.
Terming the bilateral relationship between the two armies as ‘strong’, Maj Gen Behl said that the Myanmar Army and the Indian Army are the best of friends and have been training earlier as well.
“We hope to continue with our bilateral training and cooperation in various phases,” he added.
He added that the aim of the exercise is to train Myanmar Army to participate in UN operations either as individuals or as members of the contingent.
On the other hand, Colonel Aung Kyaw Htun, who is leading the Myanmarese contingent, said that the joint military exercise would benefit the Myanmar army.
“This is the first India-Myanmar military exercise. We will learn more from them (Indian Army) and we hope to have similar exercise with our friends from the Indian Army in Myanmar,” Htun, who also head the department of strategic studies of the Myanmar army, said.