India Kyrgyzstan joint special forces exercise KHANJAR 2026 begins in Assam, strengthening defence ties and counter-terrorism training. Learn key facts for competitive exams.
India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘KHANJAR’ Begins in Assam
Annual Defence Collaboration Strengthens
The 13th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘KHANJAR’ commenced on February 4, 2026, at the Missamari military station in Assam’s Sonitpur district. This important bilateral military drill brings together elite units from both nations in a concerted effort to improve interoperability, tactical skills and joint operational coordination.
This exercise is part of a series of annual military collaborations between India and Kyrgyzstan, conducted alternately in the two countries since 2011. The 2026 edition will continue for 14 days, concluding on February 17, 2026, making it a key event in the defence calendars of both nations.
Participating Forces and Units
In this edition, the Indian contingent includes 20 highly trained personnel from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), one of India’s premier special operations units. Their Kyrgyz counterparts also consist of 20 personnel from the ILBRIS Special Forces Brigade, a well-trained unit known for its specialised capabilities in unconventional warfare.
Both sides bring their unique operational experiences and training philosophies to collectively sharpen their counter-terrorism and special operations skills.
Core Training Focus Areas
Exercise KHANJAR emphasises real-world scenarios and advanced combat drills, with key training components including:
- Counter-terrorism operations in complex environments
- Urban warfare tactics and coordinated responses
- Mountainous terrain handling and survival operations
- Advanced skills like sniping, building intervention, and mountain craft
These training modules not only enhance the tactical proficiency of individual soldiers but also deepen strategic cooperation between the two armies.
Strategic Significance of the Exercise
The exercise plays a vital role in cementing defence relations between India and Kyrgyzstan. It fosters stronger military ties, mutual understanding of operational doctrines, and exchange of best practices in handling asymmetric threats like terrorism and insurgency. Moreover, it supports broader regional peace and stability, especially given the evolving security dynamics in South and Central Asia.
Conducting the exercise in Assam, a region with diverse terrain and demanding operational conditions, adds value by exposing troops to varied landscapes and climates — a critical factor in enhancing overall combat readiness.
Why This News is Important for Exam Aspirants
Defence and Strategic Studies Relevance
The commencement of Exercise KHANJAR is significant for students preparing for government exams because it highlights India’s ongoing defence diplomacy, a major topic under International Relations and Security Studies. Joint military exercises demonstrate how India collaborates with partner nations to address shared security challenges such as terrorism and trans-national threats. This aligns with UPSC and PSC syllabus areas related to foreign policy, defence cooperation, and security frameworks.
Understanding India’s Strategic Posture
For competitive exams like SSC, Bank PO (General Awareness/GS), Railways RRB, CAPF, CDS/NDA, awareness of joint military drills is crucial. These exercises reflect India’s proactive stance in enhancing military readiness through multilateral engagements. The training with Kyrgyzstan showcases how India is forging strategic ties in Central Asia, a region of growing geopolitical importance. It underscores India’s ambitions to pursue regional security cooperation beyond its immediate neighbourhood.
Such defence news enhances an aspirant’s grasp of geopolitics, bilateral relations, defence diplomacy and international security cooperation, all of which are high-yield topics in exam question papers.
Historical Context: India-Kyrgyzstan Defence Relations and KHANJAR Exercise
Origins of the Exercise
The KHANJAR series began in 2011 as an annual joint special forces exercise between India and Kyrgyzstan. Initially aimed at building trust and tactical synergy between the two armies, it has evolved into a regular feature of their defence cooperation agenda.
The first editions of the exercise focused on basic interoperability tasks and gradually expanded to include complex scenarios such as urban warfare, mountain operations, and advanced tactical drills, reflecting the changing nature of global security threats.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
India and Kyrgyzstan established diplomatic relations shortly after Kyrgyzstan gained independence in 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Over the years, cooperation expanded to defence, education, trade, and cultural exchanges. Exercise KHANJAR became an important platform for enhancing defence collaboration and trust between both nations’ armed forces.
Focus on Counter-terrorism and Realistic Combat Training
Earlier editions, such as KHANJAR-XII conducted in Kyrgyzstan in March 2025, already emphasised exchange of expertise in counter-terrorism, urban warfare strategies, and precision sniping, signalling mutual commitment to facing evolving security threats together.
Given the complex security environment in Asia, such exercises not only improve military capabilities but also bolster regional security networks, helping participating nations prepare better for joint operations under frameworks like United Nations peacekeeping mandates.
Key Takeaways from India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘KHANJAR’
| S.No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | The 13th edition of Exercise KHANJAR commenced on February 4, 2026, at Missamari in Assam. |
| 2 | The exercise will continue for 14 days until February 17, 2026. |
| 3 | India’s Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and Kyrgyzstan’s ILBRIS Special Forces Brigade are participating. |
| 4 | Focus areas include counter-terrorism, urban warfare, mountainous terrain operations and tactical drills. |
| 5 | The exercise strengthens bilateral defence ties and enhances interoperability between both nations. |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Exercise KHANJAR?
Exercise KHANJAR is an annual joint special forces military exercise conducted between India and Kyrgyzstan to enhance interoperability, counter-terrorism skills, and joint operational capabilities of their armed forces.
2. Where is the 2026 edition of Exercise KHANJAR being held?
The 2026 edition is being conducted at the Missamari military station in Assam, India, which provides a diverse terrain suitable for special forces training.
3. Which forces are participating in Exercise KHANJAR 2026?
The Indian contingent is represented by the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), while Kyrgyzstan is represented by the ILBRIS Special Forces Brigade.
4. When did the India–Kyrgyzstan Exercise KHANJAR series begin?
The KHANJAR series began in 2011 and has since been conducted annually, alternating between India and Kyrgyzstan.
5. What are the major focus areas of this joint exercise?
The exercise focuses on counter-terrorism operations, urban warfare, mountainous terrain combat, sniping, and joint tactical drills.
6. Why are joint military exercises important for India?
They strengthen diplomatic and defence ties, improve combat readiness, promote knowledge exchange, and enhance regional security cooperation.
7. Which exam subjects is this news relevant to?
This news is relevant to General Awareness, International Relations, Defence Studies, and Current Affairs sections of UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, CDS, NDA, and State PSC exams.
8. How does this exercise help in regional security?
It promotes cooperation against terrorism and strengthens strategic partnerships in South and Central Asia.
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