A 40-member contingent of the Indian Army arrived in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Wednesday to take part in the multinational military exercise ‘Khaan Quest’, scheduled to be held from June 14 to 28.
The exercise will bring together military forces from around the world to collaborate and enhance their peacekeeping capabilities. Last edition of Exercise Khaan Quest was conducted in Mongolia from 27th July to 9th August 2024, a Defence Ministry statement said.
The exercise first started as a bilateral event between USA and Mongolian Armed Forces in 2003. Subsequently, from 2006 onwards, the exercise graduated to a multinational peacekeeping exercise with current year being the 22nd iteration.
The Indian Army contingent comprising 40 personnel is being represented mainly by troops from a Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment along with personnel from other Arms and Services. One woman officer and two women soldiers will also form part of the contingent.
The aim of exercise Khaan Quest is to prepare 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 the United Nations Charter. The exercise will focus on high degree of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical drills.
Tactical drills to be practiced during the exercise will include establishment of static and mobile check points, cordon and search operations, patrolling, 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. The exercise will facilitate developing inter-operability, bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers of the participating countries.
