A contingent of the Indian Army on Thursday departed for Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to participate in the Multinational Military Exercise Khaan Quest.
The exercise, scheduled to be conducted from July 27 to August 9 will bring together military forces from around the world to collaborate and enhance their peacekeeping capabilities, an official statement said.
The last edition of Exercise Khaan Quest was conducted in Mongolia in 2023.
The exercise first started as a bilateral event between USA and Mongolian Armed Forces in 2003 and subsequently, from 2006 onwards the exercise graduated to a ‘Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise’ with current year being the 21st iteration.
The Indian Army contingent comprising 40 personnel is being represented mainly by troops from a battalion of the Madras Regiment along with personnel from other arms and services.
Besides, one woman officer and two women soldiers will also be a part of the contingent.
The aim of the military drill is to prepare the Indian Armed Forces for peacekeeping missions while operating in a multinational environment, thereby increasing interoperability and military readiness in peace support operations under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter.
The exercise will focus on high degree of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical drills.
The tactical drills to be practiced during the exercise will include establishment of static and mobile check points, cordon and search operations, patrolling, and evacuation of civilians from hostile area, counter improvised explosive device drills, combat first aid and casualty evacuation, among others.
Exercise Khaan Quest will enable the participating countries to share their best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures for conduct of joint operations. This will also facilitate developing inter-operability, bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers of the participating countries.
