New Delhi (Sputnik) — Amid stark contrast of opinion between India and China over terrorism cooperation, both countries held the second “Sino-India Cooperation 2016” in the Eastern Ladakh region near the Line of Actual Control (de facto border).
“As part of the ongoing initiative to enhance interaction and cooperation between India and China, under the provisions of Border Defense Cooperation Agreement, 2013, the Indian and Chinese armies held Second Joint Exercise ‘Sino India Cooperation 2016’ today, as a sequel to the first Joint Exercise held on February 06, 2016 in the area of the Border Personnel Meeting Hut at the Chushul Garrison in Eastern Ladakh, along with Chinese troops of Moldo Garrison,” reads an Indian Army statement.
India believes that the exercise increased the level of trust and cooperation between the two border guard forces along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. This is the region that witnessed a number of incursions or transgressions recently.
The first joint exercise of the Indian Army and Chinese People's Liberation Army were held last year on the Chinese side of the border. This year, India proposed to expand the area of the exercise. Last year, 30 troops of the Indian Army participated in the joint exercises.
