New Delhi: India and United States have agreed to hold joint exercises on a bigger scale next year as part of measures to enhance military to military level cooperation between the two countries.

The decision to have larger scale exercises was taken at the eighth meeting of Indo-US Army executive steering group, which met at Southern Army Command Headquarters at Pune yesterday (Dec 9, 2003) and today (Dec 10), an Army spokesman here said.

Prior to the actual deliberations, the visiting US Army delegation led by Lt Gen James L Campbell, Commanding General, US Pacific Command, had an extensive briefing on defusing of improvised explosive devices, which are being used extensively by rebels in Iraq.

The delegation also visited the country's premier Defence training institution, the Indian Military Academy.

The spokesman said the steering group reviewed the interaction between the Armies of the two countries during the current year besides training cooperation events in 2004 and a way forward for 2005.

The Indian side at the talks was led by Director General of Military Operations Lt Gen B S Takhar.

PTI