Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh Suhag has said that Force 18 exercise held at Pune was of strategic importance. He said it will create harmony amongst ASEAN Nations and will be helpful in Peace Keeping activities. He was speaking at the concluding function of Force 18. <br/><br/>The largest multinational ground forces exercise on Humanitarian Mine Action and Peace Keeping Operations held at Aundh Military Station in Pune. General Singh further said that because of this exercise meaningful interaction has been started in between ASEAN countries and this interaction will be helpful in developing better understanding amongst them. This will ultimately result in better security and will accelerate development process in the region he said.<br/><br/>300 participants from 18 ASEAN Plus countries participated in this week long exercise. In this exercise participants were trained to establish and practice baseline interoperability in the field of 'Peace Keeping Operations' & dealing with 'Unexploded Ordinances'. <br/><br/>Certificates were given to the participants by the Chief of Army Staff Apart from Senior Army Officers from countries participating in this exercise including Deputy Chief of Army Staff from Vietnam People's Army Vo Van Tuan, 80 foreign dignitaries were present for today's concluding function. Paratroopers show and Classic Demonstrations of Maharashtras Traditional Malkhamb were organised on this occasion.