PH, India armies vow mutual support

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MANILA — The Philippine Army (PA) and the Indian Armed Forces – Army War College (IAF-AWC) have committed to strengthen each other’s capabilities.

Army vice commander Maj. Gen. Reynaldo M. Aquino and IAF-AWC 48th Higher Command Course and delegation head, Maj. Gen. Mandip Singh, made the commitment as they discussed training courses and programs that would enhance both Filipino and Indian troops’ abilities in countering insurgencies, at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Thursday.

In a statement Friday, PA spokesperson Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said the Army offered its command and general staff course, career and service course, civil-military courses, and other exchange training courses.

Meanwhile, the IAF-AWC vowed to support the PA through aircraft familiarization as the latter is establishing its aviation regiment.

Aquino also shared the command’s strategies anchored on preventing and countering violent extremism after Singh noted similar terrorism problems in India and the Philippines, particularly in the Mindanao region, where insurgencies arise due to extreme ideologies.

During the forum highlighting PA’s Marawi experience, IAF-AWC delegates learned about the Army’s intensified civil-military operations as an integral part in ending the insurgency crisis.

Army officers also reiterated the importance of advancing its aviation functions and other technologies to augment the capability gap learned during Marawi.

“Our transformation journey has taught us to put a premium on the knowledge and expertise that we learn from our allies and counterparts in the defense establishment. I am confident that through this activity (this Foreign Academic Travel), the bilateral cooperation between our two institutions will continue to strengthen,” Aquino said.