Army Chief General Manoj Pande visits training area of India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise 'DUSTLIK'

New Delhi [India], April 18 (ANI): General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), visited the training area and attended the opening ceremony of India-Uzbekistan joint military Exercise DUSTLIK in Termez, Uzbekistan, on Thursday.
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The Army Chief is on a 4-day visit to Uzbekistan from April 15-18. He was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Defence for Combat Training and the Chief of Southern Operations Command from the Uzbekistan side, according to an official release.
General Manoj Pande was briefed by the contingent commanders about the exercise plan on arrival at the exercise area. Post-briefing, he witnessed the training activities, which included the display of martial arts and other tactical activities, the release said.
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General Manoj Pande addressed and interacted with troops of both contingents and appreciated their hard work and joint efforts while undertaking this exercise. He complimented the contingents for their great demeanour and professional conduct. The Army Chief underscored the importance of a growing partnership between the two countries and the Armed Forces. He undertook a windshield tour of the training facilities, visited the Termez Museum and also interacted with the media, as the release mentioned further.
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As per the release, Exercise DUSTLIK aims to foster military cooperation and enhance combined capabilities to execute joint operations in mountainous as well as semi-urban terrain. It would focus on a high degree of physical fitness, joint planning, joint tactical drills and the basics of special arms skills. It will enable the two sides to share their best practices in Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for conducting joint operations.
The Exercise will also facilitate the development of interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers from both countries, it added. (ANI)