India and Oman will hold a fortnight-long joint military exercise in the deserts of the western state of Rajasthan, aimed at bolstering bilateral defence ties. "The fourth edition of India-Oman joint military exercise 'AL NAJAH-IV' between contingents of Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman is scheduled to take place at the Foreign Training Node of Mahajan Field Firing Ranges from August 1 to 13," India's Defence Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. A 60-member team from the Royal Army of Oman will represent the Gulf state in the exercise, where the 18 Mechanised Infantry Battalion of the Indian Army will take part, according to the Ministry. Also read: Mamata sacks tainted Bengal Minister over school jobs scam "The joint exercise would focus on counter-terrorism operations, regional security operations and peacekeeping operations under United Nations charter apart from organising joint physical training schedules, tactical drills, techniques and procedures," it said. Oman is India’s closest strategic and defence partner in the Gulf and provides key support to Indian warships deployed in the Arabian Sea. And the last edition of the joint military exercise was held in Oman's capital Muscat in 2019. Also read: 28 people dead, 60 sick in India from drinking spiked liquor