Guwahati: The 13th edition of the India–Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘Khanjar’ commenced at Missamari in Assam and will continue until February 17, 2026, officials said.
Exercise Khanjar is an annual bilateral training programme conducted alternately in India and Kyrgyzstan. The previous edition of the exercise was held in Kyrgyzstan in March 2025.
The Indian Army contingent, comprising 20 personnel, is represented by troops from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), while the Kyrgyzstan side is represented by an equal number of soldiers from the ILBRIS Special Forces Brigade.
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The primary aim of the exercise is to facilitate the exchange of best practices and operational experiences in counter-terrorism and special forces operations, particularly in urban and mountainous terrain.
The training will also focus on enhancing advanced special forces skills, including sniping, complex building intervention and mountain warfare techniques.
Officials said the exercise is expected to strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries while addressing shared concerns related to international terrorism and extremism.
The joint drill also underscores the commitment of India and Kyrgyzstan to promoting peace, stability and security in the region.
