Africa-India military exercise – Teams share best practices UN missions

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Pune : The inaugural edition of Africa – India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX-2019) is presently underway at Pune. It started with a grand Opening Ceremony on 18 March 2019 and would terminate on 27 March 2019.

The training of the participating nations is being conducted at two locations i.e. the Humanitarian Mine Action training is being conducted at College of Military Engineering (CME), Pune and Peace Keeping Operations being conducted at Foreign Training Node, Aundh Military Station.

A lot of ground has been covered in both Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) and Peace Keeping Operations during this Exercise. As part of Humanitarian Mine Action the training of contingents included Mine Risk Awareness program, Survey and marking of mine affected areas, establishment and functioning of Mine Action Centre, both manual and mechanical methods of demining, instructions on land release post demining, handling and disposal techniques for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

As part of the Peace Keeping Operations being conducted at Foreign Training Node, Aundh the contingents shared their experiences of various United Nations Peace Keeping Missions that they have participated, training on protection of civilians in war torn areas, methodology of carrying out patrolling and convoy protection, establishment of a Company Operating Base, Command Post and the actions to be taken from the Company Operating Base. All the participating contingents have hugely benefitted from the training imparted so far and have expressed their utmost satisfaction on the bon homie and camaraderie shared between the contingents.

The Validation Exercise alongwith the Closing Ceremony of AFINDEX-19 will be conducted at Aundh Military Station on 27 Mar 19. An equipment display of indigenous military hardware is also being put up on 26 and 27 March 2019 at Aundh Military Station. A number of Public Sector undertakings and private defence industries will be putting up their stalls under aegis of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) for promoting the indigenously manufactured defence related equipment and showcasing the same to the Friendly Foreign Countries from the African Continent.