The multinational Military Exercise started in at Pune, Maharashtra.

The multinational Military Exercise Force Eighteen conducted by Indian Army has started in at Pune, Maharashtra. 
•    In this seven-day military exercise, over 300 participants from 18 ASEAN countries are participating. 
•    Participating countries ASEAN countries along with ASEAN Plus nations (India, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, China, South Korea, Russia and US). 
•    10 ASEAN countries from South East Asia are Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. 
•    Exercise Force Eighteen is the largest multinational ground forces exercise to be conducted on Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) and Peace Keeping Operations (PKO). 
•    It is conducted by India as part of its ambitious Look East policy and it is one of the largest multi-national military exercises conducted in the country. 
•    Indian Army contingent of 40 soldiers is being led by Lt. Colonel Sofia Qureshi. 
•    She is the first women officer to lead Indian contingent in such exercise.