Elite forces from multiple nations wrap up high-stakes military drill in Meghalaya

The event was attended by six Vice Chiefs and over 40 senior military officials from the 13 participating friendly foreign countries.

Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, Vice Chief of the Army Staff, hosted the dignitaries from all participating countries.

PRAGATI, which stands for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region, brought together more than 400 troops from India, Bhutan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia and Laos.

The exercise was conducted in the spirit of equality, friendship and mutual respect, providing a common platform for regional partners to exchange experiences, share best practices and strengthen military-to-military cooperation.

The exercise focused on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain. After extensive training through lectures, demonstrations, practices and special skills, the participants executed the 72-hour validation exercise, which consolidated the training outcomes and demonstrated the operational synergy achieved during the exercise.

The training covered a wide range of activities including rock craft, ambush and counter-ambush drills, slithering, jungle lane shooting, room and bus intervention, IED detection, casualty evacuation and other specialised skills. Mixed teams comprising personnel from participating nations trained together, enhancing interoperability, capacity building and mutual trust.

A key highlight of the exercise was the spirit of camaraderie and soldierly bonding displayed by all participants. The personnel roughed it out together through demanding training conditions, reinforcing the common soldierly spirit that binds armed forces across nations. The exercise also provided opportunities for cultural exchange and informal interaction, further strengthening professional and personal bonds.

As part of the exercise, the Indian Army, in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), organised a defence equipment display for the participating partner nations. The Army Design Bureau of the Indian Army and FICCI facilitated the exhibition of cutting-edge indigenous defence equipment and niche technologies developed by the Indian defence industry, while the Indian Army showcased select new-generation equipment currently in service. The initiative highlighted India's growing indigenous defence design, development, and manufacturing capabilities under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and provided a valuable platform for promoting defence exports through industry engagement, collaboration, and knowledge exchange.

On the sidelines of the exercise, the Vice Chief of the Army Staff held constructive bilateral meetings with representatives of participating countries to further defence cooperation. These interactions enhanced mutual understanding and strengthened military-to-military relations among the participating armies.

Exercise PRAGATI 2026 has contributed immensely to enhancing interoperability, strengthening collective readiness and deepening mutual trust among the participating nations. This maiden edition of Exercise PRAGATI has laid a strong foundation for like-minded nations striving for a peaceful, prosperous and secure region; and serves as a precursor to future editions of the exercise.