Kyrgyzstan, India to hold joint anti-terror exercise

Kyrgyz and Indian special army forces are due to hold a joint anti-terrorism exercise next month, Kyrgyzstan's Defense Ministry said on Monday.The drill agreement was reached during a Kyrgyz Defense Ministry delegation's visit to India in November. "During the visit the two sides discussed the program and organization of a joint training session for special forces codenamed Khanjar 2011 ( Dagger 2011)," a ministry spokesman told Interfax."The main purpose of the joint session is to improve cooperation between the two countries and exchange experience," the spokesman said. "This exercise will help improve (mutual) understanding in the course of hostilities by special forces against terrorism in mountainous environments."A special forces school in Nahan, India, will be the site of the exercise, to be held on December 1 to 21. Kyrgyzstan will be represented by 20 servicemen and India by members of the Parachute Regiment.The Indian side is taking on all the transportation, accommodation and catering expenses of the Kyrgyz visitors and will provide them with vehicle fuel and lubricants and with ammunition, the spokesman said.