Anti-Terrorism Operation: India-Uzbekistan Military Exercise Begins, Strengthening Ties

Anti-Terrorism Operation: A 60-member contingent of the Indian Army departed on Sunday for the 7th edition of the India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise, 'Exercise DUSTLIK'. The exercise began in Uzbekistan on Sunday and is scheduled to continue until April 25. The Ministry of Defence stated that this exercise is conducted annually, hosted alternately by India and Uzbekistan.

Its aim is to foster military cooperation and enhance shared capabilities for conducting joint operations in semi-mountainous terrain.

The primary objective of this exercise is to execute highly effective actions against terrorism.

According to the Ministry of Defence, this exercise will enable both sides to share their best practices regarding the strategies, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for conducting joint operations. Currently, both armies are engaged in intense and precise drills focused on special operations.

The central focus of this exercise is to undertake highly effective measures to counter terrorism. The troops are being trained under conditions designed to simulate real-world scenarios as closely as possible.

60 Troops from Each Nation Participating

The Indian Armed Forces contingent comprises 45 personnel from the Army—the majority of whom belong to a battalion of the 'Mahar Regiment'—along with 15 personnel from the Indian Air Force. Similarly, the Uzbek contingent consists of a total of 60 personnel drawn from both their Army and Air Force.

The objective of 'Exercise DUSTLIK' remains to promote military cooperation and bolster joint capabilities for conducting operations in semi-mountainous terrain.

Multi-Faceted Military Exercise

The aspects covered during the exercise include land navigation, missions involving assaults on enemy positions, and the capture of enemy-held territories. The Indian contingent will have the opportunity to familiarize itself with the operational procedures and exercises of the

Armed Forces of Uzbekistan, as well as share its own operational experiences with the Uzbek contingent. The joint training will culminate in a 48-hour ‘Validation Exercise,’ aimed at validating tactical drills for joint operations.

Bilateral relations between the two friendly nations will receive a boost.

Summary

The ‘DUSTLIK’ exercise will enable both sides to share their best practices regarding strategies, techniques, and procedures for conducting joint operations, and will further strengthen interoperability, operational synergy, and joint command and control coordination between the contingents.