KAZIND, the annual India-Kazakhstan exercise built around counter-terrorism drills

Background

KAZIND is the joint military exercise of India and Kazakhstan, held annually since 2016. Its aim is to build the joint capability of both armies to undertake counter-terrorism operations in a sub-conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, with a focus on semi-urban and mountainous terrain. Drills include a joint response to a terrorist action, establishment of a joint command post and an intelligence and surveillance centre, securing a helipad and landing site, combat free fall, special heliborne operations, cordon and search, and the employment of drones and counter-drone systems. The exercise alternates between the two countries; the edition held at Auli in Uttarakhand had an Indian contingent of 120 personnel drawn mainly from a battalion of the Kumaon Regiment, with the Kazakh side drawn from its Land Forces and Airborne Assault Troopers.