India to Take Part in 17- Nation Exercise in Russia

NEW DELHI: India is all set to take part in the multi-nation military exercise ‘Zapad’ at Nizhniy in Russia from September 3 to 16. Both China and Pakistan are also participating in the 17-nation exercise but as “observers” without actual troops being deployed for the exercise.

The Indian Army has dispatched around 200 soldiers, primarily from the Naga Regiment, as an “all arms combined task force” for the exercise, which is one of the theatre level exercises of the Russian armed forces.

“The exercise aims to enhance military and strategic ties amongst the participating nations while they plan and execute this exercise, which will focus on counter-terrorism operations,” said an officer.

India had pulled out of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) counter-terrorism `Kavkaz’ exercise in Russia in September last year because Chinese as well as Pakistani troops were also slated to take part in the combat drills, as was then reported by TOI.

The decision to withdraw from the Kavkaz exercise had come amidst heightened tensions during the military confrontation with China in eastern Ladakh after the violent clashes in Galwan Valley on June 15.

Since then, India and China have undertaken troop disengagement on both sides of the Pangong Tso as well as Gogra, though there is still a deadlock over the other friction points at Hot Springs, Demchok and Depsang Plains, while the overall de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control is not on the horizon yet.

India and Pakistan in February this year also decided to observe a fresh border ceasefire after a particularly violent 2020, with artillery and firing duels between the rival armies breaking all annual records in the last 18 years. The ceasefire has held so far, though some infiltration attempts have been reported.

The forthcoming Zapad exercise will include troops from India, Russia, Mongolia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia and Belarus. Pakistan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka, in turn, will participate as “observers” or with “HQ staff”.
“The Indian contingent has been put through a strenuous training schedule which encompasses all facets of conventional operations including mechanized, airborne, heliborne, counter-terrorism, combat conditioning and firing,” said the officer.