India, France begin joint military exercise 'Shakti'
New Delhi: A joint exercise between the militaries of India and
France
, aimed at enhancing operational coordination and focused on joint operations in a sub-conventional environment, began on Thursday, officials said.
The eighth edition of the biennial Indo-French 'Exercise Shakti' commenced at Camp Larzac, La Cavalerie in France.
The
Indian Army
contingent, comprising 90 personnel, is primarily represented by a battalion of the
Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
, along with personnel from other arms and services.
"The French contingent, also comprising 90 personnel, is represented by the 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (13 DBLE)," a senior official said.
'Exercise Shakti' is a bilateral training engagement between the Indian and French armies aimed at enhancing interoperability, operational coordination, and mutual understanding, the officials said.
Live Events
"The 2025 edition focuses on joint operations in a sub-conventional environment under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, with training conducted in semi-urban terrain," the official said.
The opening ceremony was graced by key dignitaries, including India's military attache in France, Brig Veeresh Thapar, and the Indian contingent commander, Col HV Kalia, he said.
Representing the French side were Col Benjamin Brunet, Commander of the 13 DBLE, and Lt Col Castillo, the Deputy Commander.
Both sides conveyed their best wishes to the participating troops and expressed confidence that the exercise would foster deeper cooperation and mutual respect between the armed forces of India and France.
In their remarks, the dignitaries highlighted that 'Exercise Shakti' would not only enhance the operational preparedness of both armies but also contribute significantly to the growing Indo-French defence partnership, the officials said.
Over the course of the exercise, participating troops will engage in joint tactical drills, share best practices and operational insights, and strengthen bonds of camaraderie and trust. The culmination of the exercise will reaffirm the shared commitment of India and France towards peace, stability, and global security, they said.
Economic Times WhatsApp channel
)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
31 minutes ago
- News18
News18 Evening Digest: Iran Opens Airspace For Indian Students, PM Modi's Swipe At Lalu Prasad & Other Top Stories
Last Updated: We Are Also Covering: Israel Defence Minister Instructs IDF To 'Destabilise' Iranian Regime, Saudi Atomic Body Calls Out Israeli Strikes & Other Top Stories In today's News18 evening digest, we bring to you the latest on Israel-Iran war, PM Modi's Bihar visit, Sitaare Zameen Par Review and other updates. Iran on Friday said it is making a special exception to facilitate the evacuation of Indian students stranded amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. Iranian officials are working closely with Indian authorities as part of Operation Sindhu, New Delhi's mission to safely relocate students studying in West Asia affected by the conflict. Read More PM Narendra Modi in Bihar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a high-stakes rally in poll-bound Bihar on Friday, launched a scathing attack on the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress, accusing them of allegedly insulting Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar and betraying the aspirations of Dalits and backward classes. His remarks come amid a growing controversy over a viral video that purportedly shows RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav placing an image of Ambedkar near a chair, before resting his leg on it. Read More 'We must strike all symbols of the regime and its mechanisms of oppression, such as the Basij, as well as the base of the regime's power, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," Katz said. Saudi Arabia's Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission (NRRC) said that 'any armed attack by any party targeting nuclear facilities dedicated to peaceful purposes constitutes a violation of international resolutions." The warning comes as Israel has been targeting several Iranian nuclear sites and military bases since June 13, in what officials in Tel Aviv call a preemptive operation to neutralize Iran's ballistic and nuclear threat. Sitaare Zameen Par Movie Review: Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par has every ingredient to make it a blockbuster. It's a spiritual sequel to the extraordinary Taare Zameen Par. It has a social message laced with feel-good humour. It marks the superstar's return to the big screen three years after Laal Singh Chaddha. And it brings together a bunch of 'intellectually disabled' people and celebrates their lives. What's refreshing is that here, there's no room for sappiness (for the most part). Read More Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was one of six players nominated for the Professional Footballers' Association Men's Player of the Year award on Friday. Read More First Published: June 20, 2025, 18:30 IST
India.com
31 minutes ago
- India.com
These five nations impose severe restrictions on their Muslim population due to...; not India, US, UK, Germany, the names are...
Representational Image/AI-generated. Islam is currently fastest growing religion in the world and the global Muslim population is increasing at a rapid pace, which is estimated to hit 3 billion mark by the year 2060, according to a study by the Pew Research Center. The majority of Muslim population is concentrated in Muslim-majority nations, (India is the exception here), with Indonesia topping the list followed by Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, in addition to the Middle East and North Africa. However, a large number of Muslims also live in non-Muslim countries, and there a few countries where Muslims face severe religious discrimination due to a multitude of factors, including but not limited to racial features, culture, and religious practices. Here are five nations which impose harsh restrictions on their Muslim population, even as some of them are touted as 'liberal democracies'. France : While France touts itself as a 'liberal democracy' where all religions, races, and ethnicities are treated equally, the French authorities impose severe restrictions on Muslims, including prohibition on wearing Hijab in schools and government institutions, citing secular laws, and a complete ban on the display of religious symbols in public spaces. : While France touts itself as a 'liberal democracy' where all religions, races, and ethnicities are treated equally, the French authorities impose severe restrictions on Muslims, including prohibition on wearing Hijab in schools and government institutions, citing secular laws, and a complete ban on the display of religious symbols in public spaces. China : The all-weather 'Iron brother' of Muslim-majority Pakistan, China has committed untold atrocities upon the Uighur Muslims, an ethno-religious minority native to the Xinjiang region. According to human rights groups, Uighur are banned from performing any religious activities, and often imprisoned in forced re-education detention camps. : The all-weather 'Iron brother' of Muslim-majority Pakistan, China has committed untold atrocities upon the Uighur Muslims, an ethno-religious minority native to the Xinjiang region. According to human rights groups, Uighur are banned from performing any religious activities, and often imprisoned in forced re-education detention camps. Russia : Russia, an ally of China, is also harsh on its Muslim population, especially in Chechnya and other Muslim-majority areas, where religious places are monitored, number of mosques is restricted, and Muslims are often are labelled as extremists for keeping long beards or wearing skull caps. : Russia, an ally of China, is also harsh on its Muslim population, especially in Chechnya and other Muslim-majority areas, where religious places are monitored, number of mosques is restricted, and Muslims are often are labelled as extremists for keeping long beards or wearing skull caps. Denmark : Another 'liberal democracy', Denmark has banned burqa and niqab in public places. Additionally, many of its far-right leaders often spew venom against Islam, isolating the country's Muslim population. : Another 'liberal democracy', Denmark has banned burqa and niqab in public places. Additionally, many of its far-right leaders often spew venom against Islam, isolating the country's Muslim population. Myanmar: Last but not the least, Myanmar's military junta has carried out a horrific genocide of the ethnic Rohingya Muslims, killing hundreds of thousands, forcing millions out of the country and seek refuge in nearby nations, including India. The United Nations has called the violence perpetrated against Rohingyas as ethnic cleansing. Why nations impose restriction on Muslims? Muslims, due to their distinctive culture and religious practices, are often vilified as the 'other' or portrayed as a 'threat' by political parties/outfits, in order to gain votes or support from the majority, especially in democracies. Terrorists attacks are often used by the international media to vilify Muslims as they make attempts to blame the whole community and religion for the barbaric acts committed by a few. Additionally, far-right groups in several countries have inculcated an irrational fear among the local populace that Muslim culture will 'erase' theirs in the long run, which has led to a rise in Islamophobia in these regions.
New Indian Express
31 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Iran eases airspace restrictions to aid evacuation of 1,000 Indians as war with Israel enters eighth day
NEW DELHI: In a significant diplomatic move, Iran has eased its airspace restrictions to facilitate the evacuation of Indian nationals as tensions with Israel escalated into the eighth day on Friday. The decision, described as a special gesture by Iranian authorities, allows India to operate emergency evacuation flights to bring its citizens home safely. Three special flights operated by Iran's Mahan Air will carry approximately 1,000 Indian nationals, including a large number of students, from the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad to New Delhi, diplomatic sources said. The first flight is scheduled to arrive in India late Friday night at 11:30 PM IST. The remaining two flights will land on Saturday — one at 10:00 AM IST and the other at 4:30 PM IST.
