A 60-member Indian Armed Forces contingent on Monday departed for Oskemen in Kazakhstan to participate in the ninth edition of the India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise KAZIND, which will be held from September 28 to October 11.
KAZIND-2026 will focus on operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain, with an emphasis on joint planning and execution, air mobility and the integrated employment of unmanned aerial systems and counter-UAS capabilities. KAZIND-2026 is also expected to deepen military-to-military cooperation between India and Kazakhstan and reinforce their commitment to regional peace, stability and collective security. The Kazakhstan Armed Forces will field a contingent of similar strength, primarily drawn from its Land Forces. The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability and strengthening the capabilities of the two forces to conduct joint counter-terrorism operations in a sub-conventional environment under a United Nations mandate. The participating troops will undertake joint drills involving responses to terrorist attacks, raids, search-and-destroy missions, cordon-and-search operations, securing helipads and landing sites, and special heliborne operations. The exercise will also involve the establishment of a Joint Command Post and an Intelligence and Surveillance Centre to facilitate coordinated planning and execution of operations. The training will culminate in a comprehensive validation exercise, during which the two contingents will jointly employ the tactics, techniques and procedures rehearsed during the exercise against a simulated terrorist threat. The exercise is expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to share operational experience and strengthen professional ties, mutual trust and camaraderie.
The Indian contingent comprises mainly troops from a battalion of the Garhwal Rifles, along with personnel from other arms and services and the Indian Air Force, according to the Defence Ministry.
