New Delhi: India and Japan will hold the first-ever joint military exercise between November 1 and 14. The Ministry of Defence on Thursday said that the exercise will include tactical drills against likely urban threats.

Named 'Dharma Guardian -2018', it will be held between the Indian Army and Japan Ground Self Defence Force at Counter Insurgency Warfare School in Vairengte, Mizoram. The Indian contingent will be represented by 6/1 Gorkha Rifles while the Japanese contingent will be represented by 32 Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force.

During the 14-day exercise, due emphasis will be laid on increasing interoperability between forces from both countries. 

Both sides will jointly train, plan and execute a series of well-developed tactical drills for neutralisation of likely threats that may be encountered in urban warfare scenario. 

This exercise will be a step in deepening strategic ties including closer defence cooperation between the two countries.

With agency inputs