Brunei Among 12 Nations In Peacekeeping Exercise

Bangladesh - Multinational peacekeeping exercises kicked off in Bangladesh on Sunday with troops from 12 countries including Brunei participating in the US-led drills, officials said.

Some 400 soldiers from nations such as India, Indonesia, South Korea, and Sri Lanka were taking part in the three-week, exercises dubbed "Ambassador of Peace".

Troops from the US, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nepal, Brunei, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Tonga will also participate in the manoeuvres.

American Lt Col Edward Tanguy, commander of the 249'h Regional Training Institute in the United States, said the drills will involve checkpoint and convoy operations, patrols, and search-and-disarmament skills.

"This exercise provides us the opportunity to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures at the tactical level with all the multinational forces," Tanguy told The Associated Press at the training site at Rajendrapur Cantonment near the capital Dhaka.

"Our goal is to enhance the readiness and interoperability of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, the US Army and other multination participant forces," he said.

Many ofthe nations' soldiers participating have worked in relief operations after natural disasters struck their countries, and these experiences were valuable for UN peacekeepers, Tanguy said.

Bangladeshi soldiers were called in after a devastating cyclone last year killed about 3,400 people. Indonesian, Indian, and Sri Lankan troops helped out after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami left more than 200,000 people dead.

S M Ziaur Rahman, Bangladesh's Air Force chief, said such exercises would create more confidence among soldiers contributing to UN peacekeeping missions.

Bangladesh is the second largest contributor of troops for UN operations with 9,856 soldiers. Pakistan tops the list with 10,610 peacekeepers and India is third with 9,357. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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