A 60-member Indian Armed Forces contingent departed on September 28, 2026, for Oskemen, Kazakhstan, to participate in the ninth edition of the India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise KAZIND-2026. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from September 28 to October 11, 2026. The Indian contingent is drawn primarily from a battalion of the GARHWAL RIFLES, along with troops from other arms and services, and includes personnel from the Indian Air Force. The Kazakhstan Armed Forces will field a contingent of matching strength, comprising mainly personnel from its Land Forces.
The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and strengthen the joint capability of both forces to undertake Joint Counter-Terrorism operations in a sub-conventional environment under a United Nations mandate. KAZIND-2026 will focus on Joint Counter-Terrorism operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain, with specific emphasis on joint planning and execution, air mobility, and the integrated employment of Unmanned Aerial Systems and Counter-UAS capabilities.
Participating contingents will train together in joint responses to terrorist actions, including raids, search-and-destroy missions, cordon-and-search operations, securing of helipads and landing sites, and Special Heliborne Operations. The exercise will involve the establishment of a Joint Command Post and an Intelligence and Surveillance Centre to facilitate coordinated planning and execution. The training will culminate in a comprehensive validation exercise where both contingents will jointly apply rehearsed tactics, techniques and procedures against a simulated terrorist threat.
Exercise KAZIND-2026 provides an opportunity for both sides to benefit from each other's operational experience while strengthening professional bonds, mutual trust and camaraderie. The exercise will further deepen military-to-military cooperation between India and Kazakhstan and reinforce the shared commitment of both nations towards regional peace, stability and collective security.