Indian Army contingent participates in Exercise Khaan Quest 2026 in Mongolia
New Delhi, June 25
The 23rd edition of the Multilateral Joint Military Exercise Khaan Quest 2026 is currently underway at the Five Hills Training Area, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This edition also marks the 20th anniversary of one of the largest peacekeeping operations training exercises, with participation of over 1,000 troops from 18 countries, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The Indian Army contingent, comprising 40 personnel and represented by troops from a Battalion of the JAT Regiment along with personnel from other Arms and Services, is actively participating in intensive joint peacekeeping drills in a multinational environment. The exercise is being conducted in accordance with the UN mandate and is aimed at enhancing interoperability, communication and coordinated responses in complex operational scenarios.
As part of the exercise, Indian Army troops are rehearsing multiple tactical drills, including checkpoint procedures, patrolling, cordon and search, mob control, protection of UN assets, humanitarian assistance to civilians, combat first aid and casualty evacuation. The contingent is also participating in the 'Women, Peace and Security' segment, which highlights gender-sensitive peacekeeping, protection of civilians, community engagement and inclusive approaches in conflict and post-conflict environments.
As per the ministry, the exercise provides an important platform for participating contingents to exchange best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures for peace support operations. The joint training environment is helping soldiers build mutual understanding, confidence and mission readiness required for operating together in multinational UN peacekeeping missions.
Drawing upon India's decades-long experience in UN peacekeeping, including the contribution of women peacekeepers, the Indian Army contingent is displaying high standards of professionalism, discipline and operational preparedness. Exercise Khaan Quest 2026 reflects the Indian Army's continued commitment to global peace, stability and international cooperation while contributing towards building capable and mission-ready multinational contingents.
The Exercise is scheduled to be conducted from June 20 to July 3, at Five Hills Training Area, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Exercise is to bring together military forces from across the world to collaborate and enhance interoperability in peace support operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The previous edition of the exercise was conducted from 14-28 June 2025 in Mongolia.
The exercise first started as a bilateral event between the USA and the Mongolian Defence Forces in the year 2003. Subsequently, from the year 2006 onwards, the exercise graduated to a Multilateral Peacekeeping Exercise with the current one being the 23rd iteration. The participation by an Indian contingent reflects India's steadfast commitment to global peace and strategic partnership with Mongolia.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see India actively participating in multinational exercises. But I hope this isn't just a photo op - we need real strategic benefits from such engagements. Also, while 40 personnel is a good start, given India's UN peacekeeping experience, we could contribute more troops to such exercises to really lead the training.
JAT Regiment representing India! 🪖 These are the unsung heroes who guard our borders and now training in Mongolia's terrain. The exercises on cordon and search, mob control, and humanitarian assistance are exactly what modern peacekeeping requires. India's soft power through military diplomacy is real.
Impressive to see India's continued commitment to UN peacekeeping operations. The drills on checkpoint procedures and casualty evacuation are crucial for real-world missions. As someone who follows international military exercises, I appreciate how India brings its decades of peacekeeping experience to the table.
Exercise Khaan Quest - 23rd edition already! Shows how consistent India is in global military cooperation. The fact that this started as a US-Mongolia bilateral event and now has 18 countries says a lot about multilateralism. India's participation strengthens our strategic partnership with Mongolia too - important given the region's geopolitics.
Interesting to see Indians training in Mongolia's Five Hills area. The terrain must be quite different from what they're used to. These joint exercises under UN mandate build real interoperability. Respect to the Indian Army for maintaining high standards - their peacekeeping record speaks for itself.
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