India and Malaysia have successfully concluded this year’s iteration of the Harimau Shakti exercise, held at Bentong Camp, Malaysia.
The joint military training, an annual event alternately hosted by the two nations, witnessed participation from 78 personnel of the MAHAR Regiment representing India and 123 personnel from Malaysia’s Royal Malaysian Regiment.
Exercise #HarimauShakti 2024.
The Joint Military #Exercise #HarimauShakti, focused on Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorism, commenced with an impressive opening ceremony at #BentongCamp in Pahang District, Malaysia. This bilateral exercise between #India and #Malaysia is… pic.twitter.com/2j57PqRiAL
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) December 3, 2024
Notably, the previous edition of the exercise was conducted in November 2023 at Umroi Cantonment in Meghalaya, India.
Harimau Shakti is pivotal in strengthening the operational readiness of the Indian and Malaysian armies, with this year’s focus being on jungle warfare—a domain in which both countries possess significant expertise.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) highlighted the exercise’s alignment with Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate, underscoring its relevance to counter-insurgency operations in jungle terrains.
The training was conducted in two phases. The initial phase involved intensive cross-training sessions, where soldiers engaged in lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on practice of jungle warfare tactics.
These drills honed key skills such as ambush prevention, reconnaissance, and combat in hostile environments.
In the second phase, the forces jointly executed a simulated operation, showcasing their learnings through exercises like Anti-MT Ambush, Occupation of Harbour, and reconnaissance patrols.
This practical application demonstrated the integration of tactics and the operational synergy between the two armies.
Harimau Shakti goes beyond mere tactical training; it serves as a forum for exchanging best practices in tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for joint operations.
More importantly, it fosters mutual respect and camaraderie, strengthening the bond between the Indian and Malaysian forces.
This year’s exercise exemplified the shared commitment of the two nations to enhance their military cooperation and operational efficiency.
Source: The Print
