Surya Kiran: 18th Indo-Nepal joint exercise strengthens bilateral ties

The 18th India-Nepal joint military exercise, Surya Kiran, started at Saljhandi, Nepal, and will continue till January 13, 2025. It will be a battalion-level joint exercise with the infantry units from the Indian as well as the Nepalese army, concentrating on interoperability, best practices, and skill enhancement in counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian assistance operations.

The opening ceremony marked the initiation of two weeks of gruelling training sessions, with themes of unity and mutual respect at the forefront. Indian and Nepalese troops jointly participated in a traditional march in the company of their respective military music.

In his speech, Nepal Army’s Major General Prem Bahadur Gurung reminded everyone that people should learn to take each other’s experiences aboard and reaffirmed the lifelong bond between both forces. The Indian contingent, which included around 700 personnel, reached Saljhandi on December 29, 2024. They received a warm military reception on arrival.

The main objective of Surya Kiran is to enhance the operational interphase between the two armies. The training events are meant to enhance response capabilities in hostile environments. The key areas involve counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations where participants engage in jungle warfare, ambush drills, and heliborne operations. Moreover, these troops are enhancing their skills concerning urban warfare skills, room clearance procedures, and close-quartier battling strategies to encounter the modern-type risks in built areas.

The next important area concerning the exercise has been Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR), for which both armies practice disaster management exercises together. Being earthquake-prone, landslides, and several other natural hazards, the entire exercise is to be performed considering HADR operations, as is always expected, even if the exercise is being planned between two or more forces in different regions. In order to develop mental strength and physical energy, the training of soldiers will also include team-building sports and yoga exercises that would train them for bonhomie, strength, and endurance.

The Surya Kiran joint training is not just about tactical drills. It also includes the understanding and development of tactics in modern warfare, which will enhance the coordination of operations in high-stress situations. Lane exercises are similar to real combat. They test both tactical decision-making and unit cohesion. These will help both forces become more agile and efficient as they address increasingly evolving security challenges.

This exercise is more than a military training event; it reflects deep strategic and cultural ties between India and Nepal. The two countries have a long tradition of cooperation, and the presence of approximately 32,000 soldiers from Nepal in the Indian Army is one such example. India also assists the Nepalese Army in modernizing by providing training, technical help, and equipment. Two countries have the history of conferring honorary ranks upon each other’s army chiefs as a sign of mutual respect and shared heritage.

The Surya Kiran exercise is testimony to the robustness of the India-Nepal partnership as well as to joint efforts to ensure security and stability in the region. It becomes an avenue through which both armies engage on common security concerns, yet at the same time strengthens people-to-people contacts and cultural ties. And so, in this exercise, there stands out a commitment that both India and Nepal have in the direction of peace, cooperation, and humanitarian support.