Indian, US spl forces holding exercises in Himalayas

The two-week manoeuvres are focused on training for high-altitude operations, including "mountain safety, acclimatisation and medical aspects," a US embassy official said.

Indian defence ministry officials have given few details about the joint manoeuvres that begin Friday in Ladakh, which is administratively part of Kashmir but has been relatively untouched by the province's 14-year Islamic insurgency against Indian rule.

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Defence Minister George Fernandes on Friday said there was "no political reason" behind the exercises.

"In the past, we have held such exercises with some Asian countries. We have also done it with the US. Such exercises are carried out so that countries get to know the areas of strength and weakening of its military," Fernandes said.

Officials declined to say how many US and Indian personnel were involved in the operation.

The manoeuvres are the third phase of the joint Indian-US training sessions in extreme weather, codenamed Balance Iroquois.

Previous exercises were carried out in May 2002 near the northern Indian city of Agra where temperatures reached 45 degrees (113 Fahrenheit) and in October that year in frigid Alaska.