The eighth edition of the India-Kazakhstan joint military exercise, KAZIND-2024, which seeks to enhance the military capabilities of both sides to undertake counter-terrorism operations in a sub-conventional scenario, under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, began at Surya Foreign Training Node of Auli in Uttarakhand on Monday.
The event, which will go on till October 13, will focus on operations in the semi-urban and mountainous terrains.
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The aims of the joint exercise include achieving a high degree of physical fitness, rehearsing and refining drills for operations at the tactical level and sharing of best practices.
Tactical drills to be rehearsed during the exercise include joint response to a terrorist threat, setting up of a joint command post, establishment of an intelligence and surveillance centre, securing of helipad/ landing site, combat free fall, special heliborne operations, cordon and search operations, employment of drones and counter-drone systems among others.
“Joint Exercise KAZIND-2024 will enable both sides to share best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting joint operations. It will facilitate developing inter-operability, bonhomie and camaraderie between the two armies,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
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The Indian side will be represented by a battalion of the KUMAON Regiment of the Indian Army, along with other arms and services, as well as personnel from the Indian Air Force, while the Kazakhstan contingent will be represented mainly by personnel from Land Forces and Air Borne Assault Troopers.
The joint exercise between the two countries has been an annual event since 2016. The last edition of the event was held at Otar in Kazakhstan.