India-France joint training exercise shakti

Afifteen days training exercise ‘Exercise SHAKTI-2011’, in October was the first ever joint training event between Indian and French armies focusing on counter terrorism (CT) operations. The participating contingents were 60 French troops of the elite 13 mountain battalion and an equal number of personnel from 2nd battalion, The Bihar Regiment under the aegis of 99 Mountain Brigade. Troops of both countries practiced basic combat tactics related to various aspects of CT operations in detail and exchanged their combat techniques/skills, experiences and lessons drawn from operations undertaken by the two armies. The initial phase of joint training culminated in executing a series of counter terrorist actions and employment of commandos in the thickly forested mountains around Ranikhet.