India and Sri Lanka have been focusing on increasing cooperation in counterterrorism with the eighth edition 12-day Mitra Shakti joint military exercise that began this week in Sri Lanka. The ongoing excise will continue till 15 October at the Combat Training School in the eastern district of Ampara. 

All arms contingent of 120 Indian Army personnel headed by Col. Prakash Kumar is participating in the exercise designed to enhance understanding of transnational terrorism, inter-operability skills, the conduct of joint tactical operations, sharing of each other’s best practices, and experiences, The Sri Lanka Army said in a statement. 

Significantly, the recent arrest of an old intelligence operative associated with now-defunct LTTE, a separatist Tamil terrorist organization, by Indian agencies showed signs of attempts to revive the movement in the island nation. 

Despite strained ties in recent months, both countries enjoy close cooperation on matters related to terrorism and counter-terrorism and maritime security. The ongoing Maitri Shakti exercise also includes tactical level operations at the sub-unit level in an international counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism environment. 

The statement released by the Sri Lanka Army early this week said it aimed to strengthen bilateral military cooperation, understanding, and bonds of neighborly relations between both services. The exercise takes place alternately either in India or Sri Lanka every year.

“The aim of the exercise is to promote close relations between armies of both countries and enhance inter-operability and sharing best practices in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations,” India’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement. 

The Easter Bombings in 2019 had rocked Sri Lanka, killing 259 people, mostly Christian minorities. Aftereffects of the bombings were even more disastrous as they ruined the country’s booming tourism industry, which at the time was bringing around $1.2 billion annually. 

The attack exposed the vulnerability of the Sri Lankan state and highlighted the lack of coordination between different agencies as there were multiple warnings and inputs about coordinated attacks. 

The return of the Taliban in Afghanistan has already put the South Asian countries on notice with increasing prospects of growing radical movements and extremist ideologies.    

(SAM)