Question : Indo-USA Joint Military Drill

(a) whether the India and United States have recently conducted a joint military drill in the Chaubatia foothills in Uttarakhand;

(b) if so, the details along with the aims and objectives thereof;

(c) the numbers of United States and Indian contingent participated in the joint drill;

(d) the extent to which the Indian contingent has been benefited from the said exercise; and

(e) whether the Government has signed agreements with other foreign countries for such joint military drill and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
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(a) Yes, Madam. Indo-US joint exercise YUDH ABHYAS was conducted from 14-27 September, 2016 at Chaubatia.

(b) The aim of the exercise was confidence building, experience sharing and imbibing best practices from each other.

(c) 230 soldiers from US Army and an equal number from Indian Army had participated in the joint drill.

(d) The YUDH ABHYAS series of exercises benefit the Army in learning from the experiences and procedures of the US Army in planning and conduct of Counter Insurgency / Counter Terrorism operations.

(e) Yes, Madam. Indian Army conducts joint exercises with Armies of 19 countries.

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