India and Oman will further strengthen their strategic and defence ties during the fortnight-long counter-terrorism exercises between the armies of the two countries in Rajasthan starting Monday.
The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India in the Gulf and an important interlocutor at the Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC), Arab League, and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) fora.
Giving details of the exercise, army officials said here on Sunday, the fourth Edition of the Joint Military Exercise ‘AL NAJAH-IV’ between will take place at the Foreign Training Node of Mahajan Field Firing Ranges near Bikaner, Rajasthan. The Royal Army of Oman contingent comprising 60 personnel from the Sultan of Oman Parachute Regiment have arrived at the exercise location. The Indian Army is represented by troops from the 18 Mechanised Infantry battalion. The previous edition of Ex AL NAJAH IV was organised at Muscat from in March 2019.
The scope of the forthcoming exercise includes professional interaction, mutual understanding of drills and procedures, establishment of joint command and control structures and elimination of terrorist threats.
The joint exercise will focus on Counter Terrorism Operations, Regional Security Operations and Peace Keeping Operations under United Nations charter apart from organising joint physical training schedules, tactical drills, techniques and procedures, they said.
A comprehensive training programme to culminate in a 48 hours long validation exercise involving establishing of joint mobile vehicle check posts, joint cordon and search operations followed by joint room intervention drills in a built up area has been worked out.
The joint military exercise aims to enhance the level of defence co-operation between Indian Army and Royal Army of Oman and will further manifest in enhancing the bilateral relations between the two nations. Elaborating upon the relations between the two countries, they said.
Oman accords a high priority to its ties with India. The two countries across the Arabian Sea are linked by geography, history and culture and enjoy warm and cordial relations, which are attributed to historical maritime trade linkages, intimacy of the royal family with India and the seminal role played by the Indian expatriate community in building of Oman, which is acknowledged by Omani Government. India-Oman defence cooperation has emerged as a key pillar of the strategic partnership between the two countries. There has been regular exchange of visits by Defence Ministers of both sides. India’s Defence Minister visited Oman in May 2016 during which four MOUs were signed.
Over the past few years visits, India’s Defence Secretary, Navy and Army Chiefs have visited Oman with reciprocal visits to India by all three Omani Service Commanders and Secretary General of Defence.
The Ministries of Defence of both countries review their relations annually under the aegis of Joint Military Cooperation Committee meeting. Both Air Force and Navy undertake staff talks on a regular basis which has been the catalyst for new areas of cooperation.
Since 2008, Oman has been extending its support to Indian Navy’s anti-piracy missions and Indian Naval Ships are regularly welcomed by Oman for Over Seas Deployments.
