India and France will begin their eight-day counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency joint exercise Shakti-2016 in Rajasthan today. The French contingent comprising 56 personnel of 35th Infantry Regiment of 7th Armoured Brigade, which had taken part in the Afghan war.<br/><br/>A statement by the Indian Army said, the exercise is an important step for the armies to train together and gain from each other's rich operational experience. <br/>Both countries have troops deployed in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations and therefore sharing each other's military experiences will pay meaningful dividends.