The armies of India and Nepal have concluded the 15th edition of a joint military exercise, Surya Kiran XV, at Pithoragarh in the state of Uttarakhand, India.
The conclusion follows 14 days of intense military training. Exercise Surya Kiran XV started on 20 September.
The Infantry Battalion of the Indian Army and an equivalent counterpart from the Nepali Army participated in the joint military drill.
During the exercise, the two forces shared their experiences drawn from several counter-terrorism and disaster relief operations.
Following rigorous military training, armies of the two nations showcased their combat power and dominance against the terrorist groups during the ‘Validation Exercise’.
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that it provided an opportunity for the armies to strengthen the long-standing professional and social relationship.
The MoD said: “The senior officials expressed their satisfaction and appreciation towards the professional conduct of the exercise.
“The bonhomie, esprit-de-corps and goodwill generated during the exercise will go a long way in future strengthening the bonds between the armed forces of both countries.”
Exercise Surya Kiran aims to build interoperability and share expertise between the two countries.
Every year, the Surya Kiran series of exercises is conducted in either Nepal or India. The last edition of the Surya Kiran exercise was concluded in Nepal in 2019.
In November 2016, India and Nepal completed the tenth edition of the Surya Kiran-X exercise, at the Army Battle School in Saljhandi, Nepal.
