KATHMANDU, March 20: Military personnel from various 28 countries are participating in the Exercise Shanti Prayas (i.e. peace endeavors) III being held at Birendra Peace Operations Training Center (BPOTC) in Paanchkhal, Kavre.
The multi-national military exercise co-sponsored by Nepal Army and US Army's Pacific Command will last for 14 days beginning Monday. Altogether 1024 army personnel from 28 countries would participate in the exercise.
According to a press statement issued by the Public Relations Directorate of Nepal Army, the main objective of the joint military exercise is to help increase the participants' interoperability and peacekeeping skills prior to their deployment to the UN peace missions. Joint military exercise of this kind before the deployment of army personnel in conflict-hit zone is expected to significantly boost their capacity to maintain peace in the multinational environment of the UN peace missions.
The military exercise includes various components including Staff Training Event (STE), Field Training Event (FTE), Critical Enabler and Capability Enhancement Events and Regional Training Seminar.
Commander of the US Pacific Command Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday to take part in the event, said Nepal Army, the host of the exercise.
According to Colonel Prayog JB Rana, Commandant of the BPOTC, Military personnel from Bangladesh, Bosnia Herzegovina, Cambodia, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Mexico, Nepal, Paraguay, Philippines, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Kirgizstan, Thailand, United States, Uruguay, and Vietnam are participating in the joint military exercise. Army personnel from Australia, Canada, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the UK are also among those participating in the training.
Multinational Exercise 'Shanti Prayas IV' begins
