Share practices to ensure peace: Major General Sanjeev Sharma

PUNE: Several belligerent groups have posed a big challenge to the security personnel and it is imperative for various countries to share their best practices in the field of humanitarian mine assistance and peace keeping operations to ensure overall peace, Major General Sanjeev Sharma, General Officer Commanding, Golden Katar division, said on Monday.
Sharma was in the city to inaugurate the first edition of Africa – India Joint Field Training Exercise, AFINDEX – 19, at the Aundh Military Station here.

The Gandhinagar-based division commander was the chief guest and reviewed the parade in presence of officers of participating nations.
“The main objective of this exercise is to acquaint participating contingents with each other's operation procedures on HMA and peace keeping operations under the United Nation (UN) mandate to achieve better operability and compatibility. Sharing knowledge of each other's practices is the key as several belligerent groups have destabilised the peace across the nations. To overcome this challenge, such an exercise is necessary,” Sharma said.
Contingents from 17 African countries will carry out various tactical and technical drills during the exercise at the foreign training node at the station as well as the College of Military Engineering. The commander said that the exercise will help the troops in developing required understanding. “I am confident that the contingents will focus on joint drills. This exercise will not only achieve military objectives but also help enhance diplomatic relations. Moreover, it will forge cultural bonds and friendship, too,” Sharma added.
Several terrorists groups have posed a serious security threat to many African nations. To counter these security challenges, troops from several countries, including India, have been operating in these regions under the UN mandate for over two decades, the army sources said.
Earlier, the Indian troops were deployed in over ten African countries but now they are mainly posted in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Since the Indian Army operates in all types of terrain, right from deserts to glaciers to high altitudes, it has developed an effective indigenous tactical drill to remove landmines and counter effective challenges. Because of this, the Indian troops deployed in Congo could perform effectively in the recent past,” a senior army officer, requesting anonymity, told TOI.
India has been taking conscious efforts towards enhancing diplomatic relations with these African nations, considering the growing investment of the Chinese in these countries.
“India is not only strengthening its diplomatic ties in South East Asia region but also increasing its footprints across the African continent for its geo-strategic advantages,” the officer added.