India-China joint army exercise in limbo

A joint India-China army exercise, scheduled for November, will be delayed as the timing and location of the exercise is yet to be decided upon. According to Indian government sources, a Chinese team expected in New Delhi last month to finalize the details of the exercise called off its visit.

The proposed exercise assumes significance, given the fact that the two countries have already fought a brief war in 1962, which has embittered relations between them ever since.

According to earlier reports, the November exercise was to be an anti-terrorism drill involving about 150 troops of both sides.

With a Chinese delegation now due to visit the country sometime later this month, it is likely that the venue and dates of the exercise may be discussed at this meeting.

For the record, the two nations have conducted joint naval exercises in the East China Sea, in the near past.