Exercise KAZIND 2026 Begins with Opening Ceremony in Kazakhstan's Oskemen

The India-Kazakhstan joint military exercise KAZIND-2026 officially began with an opening ceremony in Oskemen, Kazakhstan, on Tuesday, marking the start of a new phase of military cooperation between the two countries. The ceremony was led by Major General Zhenis Maralov, Chief of Regional Command East of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan. Senior Kazakh military officers, along with Colonel Pankaj Vidyarthi, India’s Defence Attaché to Kazakhstan, were also present.

Addressing personnel from both contingents, Major General Maralov and Colonel Arun Dev Singh Jamwal, Commander of the Indian contingent, conveyed their best wishes for the successful completion of the exercise. The opening event formally launched the joint training programme, with Indian and Kazakh troops beginning coordinated drills and professional exchanges. The interaction is aimed at building mutual understanding, strengthening camaraderie and improving coordination between the participating forces.

According to the Ministry of Defence, KAZIND-2026 is designed to improve interoperability between the Indian and Kazakh armed forces and enhance their ability to conduct joint counter-terrorism operations in a sub-conventional environment under a United Nations mandate. The exercise will place particular emphasis on operations in semi-urban and mountainous areas. Training activities will cover joint operational planning and execution, air mobility, and the coordinated use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Counter-UAS technologies.

During the exercise, troops from both countries will rehearse responses to a range of simulated terrorist threats. These will include raids, search-and-destroy missions, cordon-and-search operations, securing helipads and landing zones, as well as Special Heliborne Operations. The training programme will also feature the establishment of a Joint Command Post and an Intelligence and Surveillance Centre. These facilities will support the participating contingents in sharing information, coordinating operations and improving decision-making during joint missions.

The exercise will conclude with a comprehensive validation phase, during which the troops will jointly demonstrate the tactics, techniques and procedures developed during the training against a simulated terrorist scenario. Beyond operational training, KAZIND-2026 is expected to provide Indian and Kazakh forces with an opportunity to exchange field experience and learn from each other's operational practices. The exercise is also intended to further strengthen trust, professional cooperation and military-to-military ties between the two countries. The joint exercise reflects the continued defence cooperation between India and Kazakhstan and their shared interest in strengthening regional peace, stability and collective security.