The Indian Army is participating in Exercise Khaan Quest 2026, a multilateral military drillat the Five Hills Training Area in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Originating in 2003 as a bilateral exercise between the United States and Mongolia, it became a multilateral peacekeeping exercise in 2006 and has now reached its 23rd edition. Troops from 18 nations including Germany, South Korea and the United States are participating in this year’s edition of the exercise.The exercise coincides with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Mongolia. India and Mongolia describe their bilateral relationship as a strategic partnership. Both countries have strong cultural linkages and are working to develop a strong economic partnership.This year, India has sent a 40-member contingent from the Jat Regiment, supported by personnel from other arms and services. The exercise aims to prepare forces for peacekeeping missions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, focusing on joint planning and tactical drills. These include establishing checkpoints, conducting cordon and search operations, patrolling, evacuating civilians from hostile zones, countering improvised explosive devices, and providing combat first aid and casualty evacuation.The exercise is important for India, as it has been a major contributor, deploying over 2,90,000 personnel across over 50 UN missions since independence. Currently, over 5,000 Indian peacekeepers serve in nine active missions worldwide, operating in demanding conditions to protect civilians, support ceasefires and assist humanitarian efforts.US Ambassador to Mongolia Richard L Buangan said, “Khaan Quest exercise provides a unique platform for participating nations to improve interoperability, enhance readiness, and develop the skills necessary to conduct peace support operations in increasingly complex environments. Whether responding to humanitarian crises, protecting civilian populations, supporting stability operations, or working alongside multinational partners, the lessons learned here will contribute directly to future missions around the world.“Beyond tactical training, Exercise Khaan Quest provides a platform for participating nations to share best practices in peace support operations. It enhances interoperability, operational readiness, and mutual understanding among diverse forces. For India, the exercise strengthens its role as a responsible contributor to international peacekeeping while fostering camaraderie and defence ties with Mongolia and other global partners.
