US Special Forces conduct joint exercises with NSG

Hyderabad, March 13 (IANS) The United States Special Operations Forces are currently conducting joint exercises with the Indian National Security Guard (NSG) here.

Forces from the 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) stationed out of Okinawa, Japan are participating in the training, the US Consulate in Hyderabad said on Wednesday.

Sources told IANS that the exercise began on Tuesday and will continue till April 5. The joint exercise is being conducted at NSG Southern Regional Centre at Ibrahimpatnam on the city's outskirts.

This exercise will help build inter-operability and comradeship between the two forces and is designed to enhance the capabilities of both Indian and US armed forces, the statement said.

The training focuses on mutual defense operations, so both nations can more effectively employ forces and assist in the event of crises that may endanger public health and safety.

The exercise will be overseen by the US Embassy in New Delhi and US Special Operations Pacific Command at Camp H.M. Smith in Hawaii.

"The US-India security partnership is strong, and growing stronger," said US Consul General Katherine Hadda.

"This Special Forces exercise in Hyderabad further advances our two countries' operational coordination, and it will clearly benefit both our nations," she added.

These training events are part of the US Indo-Pacific Command's Theater Security Cooperation Program, conducted by the US military with a select group of nations in the Indo-Pacific region to enhance coordination and capabilities.

Training like the Hyderabad exercise is critical to US Special Operations Forces as soldiers learn how to effectively work with Indian partners in new environments -- experience that will be valuable should a crisis occur, the statement said.

The overall aim of the program is to enhance professionalism and the ability to operate together during times of crisis, it added.

Hyderabad has become a hub of US-Indian defense manufacturing, including joint venture facilities, technology centers, and skills-development capacity.