<span style="color: #222222;">The India – Uzbekistan joint military exercise DUSTLIK II commenced yesterday in Foreign Training Node Chaubatia, Ranikhet in Uttarakhand.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;">This is the Second Edition of annual bilateral joint exercise of both armies. It will continue till the 19th of this month.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;">The first edition of the exercise was held in Uzbekistan in November 2019.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;">45 Soldiers each from Uzbekistan and Indian Army are participating in the exercise.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;">Both contingents will be sharing their expertise and skills in the field of counter terrorist operations in mountainous or rural or urban scenarios under UN mandate.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;">The exercise will culminate into a 36 hours joint validation exercise scheduled from 17th to 18th March.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;">The validation exercise will be a test bed for the soldiers of both armies as they would be undergoing the challenges of actual operations in such scenarios.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />'' </span><span style="color: #222222;">Defence Ministry said, the joint exercise will definitely provide impetus to the ever growing military and diplomatic ties between the two nations and also reflects the strong resolve of both nations to counter terrorism.</span>