Nepal and United States Decided to Conduct Joint Military Exercises Called Shanti Prayas-2

Nepal and United States decided to conduct the military exercises jointly in the last week of March 2013. The joint military exercises will also include other countries such as India. The joint military exercises are called Shanti Prayas-2 or Peace Initiatives and these will be conducted in Panchkhal, 50 km east of Kathmandu from 25 March 2013 to 7 April 2013.
 
The Armies of Nepal and the US, apart from other countries announced participating in this drill, which is said to be the latest in Asia-Pacific region. This drill is designed for promotion of security as well as regional peace, while also enhancing the peacekeeping capabilities as well as capacity of the nations which participate in Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI). GPOI is the initiative of G8 nations for increasing the operations for peace support across the worldwide.

The training which will be conducted during the joint military exercises will include- vignette based staff training exercise as well as field training exercise.

Vignette Based Staff Training Exercise

The Staff Training Exercise will include Nepal Army officers apart from the officers from countries such as Rwanda, South Korea, Canada, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Australia, Bangladesh, Philippines, Tajikistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Paraguay, Japan and Jordan. The purpose of the training would be to refine the staff skills of the military officers who primarily function in UN peacekeeping missions across the world.

Field Training Exercise

The field training exercise on the other hand, will be conducted by the armies from Nepal, Philippines, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Rwanda, Paraguay, Indonesia, Japan and Jordan. This training will be offered by international cadre of instructors who have wide training experience in peacekeeping.  Also the personnel from the US Pacific Command will facilitate the training. The purpose of the training would be enhancement of basic skills which are required while conducting the peacekeeping operations like convoy operations, checkpoint operations as well as patrolling.