India and Kyrgyzstan Strengthen Ties with 'Khanjar' Special Forces Exercise

The 'Khanjar' exercise between India's Parachute Regiment and Kyrgyzstan's ILBRIS Special Forces Brigade in Assam focuses on counter-terrorism and advanced skills. It aims to bolster defense ties, while a separate joint operation in Jammu & Kashmir showcases coordinated efforts in combating terrorism.

The joint special forces exercise 'Khanjar' between India and Kyrgyzstan commenced on February 4 in Missamari, Assam, marking a significant move towards strengthening bilateral military cooperation. Comprising 20 personnel each, India's Parachute Regiment troops and Kyrgyzstan's ILBRIS Special Forces Brigade are participating in this two-week event.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the exercise aims to facilitate the exchange of best practices in counter-terrorism and special forces operations, particularly in urban and mountainous terrains. Focus areas include advanced skills like sniping, complex building interventions, and mountain craft, enhancing operational capabilities of both forces.

Exercise 'Khanjar' is not only about skills development but also reinforces India's and Kyrgyzstan's commitment to regional peace and security by addressing concerns of international terrorism and extremism. Meanwhile, a separate joint operation known as 'Operation Kiya' led to the neutralization of two terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir, demonstrating effective intelligence-led coordination between Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF.