Photo Courtesy: northeasttoday
Shillong: The Indian Army has officially commenced the multilateral military exercise PRAGATI 2026 at the Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya. The two-week program brings together military personnel from India and 12 partner nations: Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The name stands for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region.
Major General Sunil Sheoran, Additional Director General of Infantry, opened the event by emphasizing the need for collective engagement to address modern security threats. He encouraged the participating troops to prioritize openness, mutual respect, and the exchange of operational knowledge to build a coordinated response to regional challenges.
The training curriculum focuses on counter-terrorism operations within semi-mountainous and jungle environments. Soldiers will engage in joint planning, tactical drills, and exercises designed to improve endurance, physical fitness, and operational interoperability. The program also facilitates intelligence-sharing and the development of common security approaches.
Beyond tactical training, the event features cultural exchanges and displays of indigenous defense equipment developed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. These exhibitions aim to highlight India's self-reliance in defense manufacturing while fostering deeper professional connections and camaraderie among the 13 participating nations.
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