The 13th edition of the 21-day India-US Joint Special Forces Exercise Vajra Prahar 2022 culminated at Bakloh in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday. The joint training provided an opportunity for the Special Forces from both nations to train in Airborne Operations, Special Operations, and Counter Terrorism operations in a joint environment under the United Nations Charter, read the Ministry of Defence press release. This annual exercise is hosted alternately between India and the United States. The 12th edition was conducted at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington (US) in October 2021. The exercise was conducted in two phases; the first phase involved combat conditioning and tactical level special missions training exercises, and the second phase included 48 hours of validation of training received by both contingents in the first phase, according to the release.
Both contingents expressed immense satisfaction with the outcomes of the exercise, in terms of the standards achieved and the sharing of best practises when both contingents undertook joint training, planning, and execution of a series of mock operations in simulated conventional and unconventional scenarios in mountainous terrain. Exercise Vajra Prahar, with the US Special Forces, is significant in terms of security challenges faced by both nations in the backdrop of the current global situation. The joint military exercise has further strengthened the traditional bond of friendship between the special forces of both nations as well as improved bilateral defence cooperation between India and the US.
This joint exercise is a significant step in strengthening the traditional bond of friendship between the special forces of both nations as well as improving bilateral defence cooperation between India and the USA. Bilateral military exercises and defence exchanges are an important facet of deepening bilateral defence cooperation.