By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: A multinational military drill involving armed forces from 13 countries began on Wednesday at Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya.
The two-week exercise is centred on counter-terror operations in jungle and hilly terrain conditions.
‘PRAGATI 2026’ is the designated name of the exercise, which brings together India and 12 partner nations, including Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
According to Defence PRO Lieutenant Colonel Mahender Rawat, the exercise is designed to strengthen coordination and operational compatibility among participating armies.
This is being carried out through tactical field training, joint planning exercises and simulated counter-terror missions in challenging terrain.
Focus areas of the training include endurance, adaptability, discipline and coordinated action in difficult operational environments. Officials noted that the programme also enables armed forces to exchange field experience and develop shared approaches to regional security issues.
Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the Indian Army is exhibiting indigenous defence systems and newly developed technologies.
The display aims to connect visiting contingents with Indian defence manufacturers while showcasing the country’s expanding production capabilities in the defence sector.
Strengthening regional military cooperation, improving intelligence-sharing mechanisms and building long-term partnerships are among the key objectives of the exercise, officials said.
The programme further includes cultural interactions and professional exchanges to deepen cooperation between armed forces.
PRAGATI is an acronym for “Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region”. The initiative has been described by officials as a cooperative framework grounded in trust, equality among partners and common security priorities.
The inauguration event witnessed the presence of senior defence officials along with other invited dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Major General Sunil Sheoran, Additional Director General of Infantry, extended a welcome to all participating military contingents and underlined the value of working together in responding to emerging security challenges.
He further noted that interaction among troops from different countries would allow the sharing of operational knowledge and experiences.
Such engagement, he added, would support the development of a more coordinated approach to shared regional security concerns.