India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘KHANJAR’ Begins in Assam

The 13th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘KHANJAR’ commenced at the Army base in Missamari, Assam, on Wednesday and will continue until February 17, Defence PRO Lt Col Mahender Rawat said.

The Indian contingent, comprising 20 personnel from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) , is participating alongside an equal-strength Kyrgyz team from the ILBRIS Special Forces Brigade . The exercise, conducted alternately between the two nations, was last held in Kyrgyzstan in March 2025 .

Lt Col Rawat highlighted that ‘KHANJAR’ aims to exchange best practices in counter-terrorism operations, with a focus on urban and mountainous warfare. The training includes advanced skills such as sniping, complex building intervention, and mountain craft, enhancing operational readiness for both forces.

“This exercise not only strengthens tactical capabilities but also fortifies bilateral defence ties and addresses shared concerns of international terrorism and extremism,” he added. “It reaffirms the commitment of India and Kyrgyzstan to regional peace, stability, and security.”

Benefits of such exercises include interoperability between forces, exposure to different terrains and operational doctrines, and development of advanced special forces skills. They also enhance strategic trust, facilitate intelligence sharing, and prepare troops for potential multinational or coalition operations.

The India-Kyrgyzstan defence partnership has roots in the Soviet era , when India maintained strong ties with the USSR, Kyrgyzstan’s former ruling state. Following Kyrgyzstan’s independence in 1991 , India established full diplomatic relations in 1992, strengthening cooperation in defence, security, education, and trade . Exercises like ‘KHANJAR’ build on this historical foundation while fostering modern strategic collaboration in the Central Asian region.