Armies of India and Thailand were sharing anti-terrorism tactics in a joint exercise underway in India's eastern state of Jharkhand, it was reported Sunday. Each country sent 50 troops to the 17-day exercise that will conclude on September 19, the IANS news agency reported. The joint exercise codenamed "Maitree" - meaning "friendship" in both Hindi and Thai - is aimed at enhancing coordination and cooperation between the two armed forces in the areas of defense and security. It is the first-ever exercise between the armies under a bilateral security cooperation pact. Defense officials said the focus area for the Royal Thai Army was to take tips from their Indian counterparts on fighting militancy and terrorism. "The exercise will help us in launching operations against insurgents in our own country. In the joint exercise we are sharing the Indian Army's experience in dealing with the insurgents," Lieutenant Colonel Vinai Pimai of the Royal Thai Army told the IANS. An important part of the exercise is to train soldiers in carrying out counter insurgency operations in urban areas. Troops were also practicing basic drills including small team tactics, which are essential for successful counter-insurgency operations. A joint training in rock assault, rappelling and slithering from helicopters was conducted as a method of quick insertion for successful operation in the urban scenario, the news agency reported.
