Indian Armed Forces contingent departs for India-Kazakhstan exercise KAZIND-2026 at Oskemen

28 September 2026

A 60-member Indian Armed Forces contingent departed for Oskemen, Kazakhstan, to take part in the ninth edition of the India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise KAZIND.
The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 28 September to 11 October 2026.
The Indian contingent is drawn mainly from a battalion of the Garhwal Rifles, along with troops from other arms and services and personnel from the Indian Air Force.
The Kazakhstan Armed Forces will field a contingent of matching strength, comprising primarily personnel from its Land Forces.
The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and strengthen the joint capability of both forces to undertake joint counter-terrorism operations in a sub-conventional environment under a United Nations mandate.
KAZIND-2026 focuses on joint counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain, with emphasis on air mobility and the integrated employment of Unmanned Aerial Systems and Counter-UAS capabilities.
A Joint Command Post and an Intelligence and Surveillance Centre will be established, and the training will culminate in a validation exercise against a simulated terrorist threat.