India, Saudi Arabia begin joint military exercise

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) – A joint military exercise between India and Saudi Arabia began on Monday in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan, according to the Indian Defense Ministry.

The exercise Sada Tanseeq will conclude on Feb. 10 with the aim of training troops for joint operations in semi desert terrain, the ministry said in a statement.

“The exercise will enable both sides to share their best practices in the tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting operations in sub-conventional domain. It will facilitate developing interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between troops from both the sides,” the ministry said.

It will also "provide an opportunity to both the contingents to strengthen their bond. It will act as a platform to achieve shared security objectives, enhance the level of defence cooperation and foster bilateral relations between the two friendly nations," it added.

Earlier this month, India and UAE also held joint military exercise Desert Cyclone in Rajasthan state. The Indian government said the exercise signified “further strengthening of bonds of friendship and trust between India and the UAE.”