New Delhi: Special forces from India and the United Kingdom will carry out high-altitude battle manoeuvres involving hits on terrorist mountain hideouts in joint exercises spread over 12 days in the frontier region of Ladakh, bordering China, from the month-end.

One hundred and fifty British Marine Commandoes and an equal number of men from India's elite special forces will be in action in "long endurance and survivability" manoeuvres in snow-covered Himalayan heights, army officials said here today.

The exercises would involve classic commando's action like surprise hit-and-run raid by self-contained small bands of troops operating at extreme heights of more than 3,500 metres. In a reflection of their growing cooperation in the war against terror, the thrust of the exercises would be to fine tune tactics against terrorists, officials said.

It is on British request that Ladakh region has been picked up for joint manoeuvres as coincidently the terrain has an uncanny resemblance to rugged Afghan highlands.

The exercise will be only the second such joint manoeuvres held in the frontier region. Indian and US special forces held mountain-warfare exercises in the same region last year, raising eyebrows in Beijing.

Most of the 150 strong Royal Marines, who include 10 officers taking part in the exercise, have been drawn from contingents that have had an operational stint in Afghanistan.