Taking forward their cooperation in combating terrorism, the United States is sending a team of National Guards for specialized training at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) of the Indian Army at Varangte in Mizoram, the Indian Express newspaper reported Saturday.

Quoting army officials, the newspaper report said that this would be the first time that US National Guards would be sending a team to India. The US soldiers will be at the school for the third consecutive year.

The exercise aims at increasing the inter operability between the armed forces of the two countries, as also assisting in fostering a greater bond between India and the United States.

Mizoram, which lies in India's northeast, borders with some areas of Myanmar. A number of armed-rebel groups are fighting Indian forces in India's northeast states and India-controlled Kashmir, demanding freedom.

Apart from the United States, CIJW also trains officers and personnel of friendly nations, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Singapore, South Africa, Myanmar, Iraq, Ghana, Botswana and Kazakhstan.

According to the report, the training is part of the joint Indo-US exercises code-named "Yudh Abhyas" (war-exercise). The US contingent will have 40 personnel from the 25th infantry Division and the National Guards.

Exercises with the US troops will be followed by Indo-Russian airborne specialized anti-insurgency exercises between Oct. 11 and 19 at Mahajan firing ranges near Suratgarh in Rajasthan, which borders with Pakistan, the newspaper said.

It will be for the first time that Russian special commando forces, Spetnaz, will be seen in action on Indian soil.

According to the report, the focus of the joint exercise with Russia will be on carrying out attacks against terrorist targets in built-up urban environment. The exercise will involve hit-and-run heliborne operations and use new Russian anti-terrorist equipment.

Army Special Forces will also take part in this exercise, which will be witnessed by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and other senior officers of the Russian military.

Military cooperation between India and the United States was suspended after India tested nuclear weapons in May 1998, and the United States imposed sanctions against India in the aftermath.

However, later in 2002, India and the United States announced the revival of the exercises, pledging a larger naval interaction.

Source:Xinhua