(a) whether the Government has directed the Armed Forces to carry out joint exercises with friendly countries in tune with India’s ‘Act East Policy’, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Armed Forces have shortlisted countries for this purpose and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the time by which these exercises will take place?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)
(a) to (c): India conducted a joint Humanitarian Mine Action and Peace Keeping Operations Field Training Exercise under ASEAN Defence Minister’s Meeting – Plus framework in Pune in March 2016. Over 300 personnel from 17 countries participated in this joint exercise, which was the largest such exercise ever held in India.
Our Armed Forces regularly conduct joint exercises in bilateral and other formats with friendly foreign countries, including those in East Asia. In 2015, 28 such joint exercises were conducted.
*******