A two-week multinational military exercise involving defence personnel from 13 countries began on Wednesday at Umroi Military Station with a focus on counter-terrorism operations in jungle and semi-mountainous terrain.The exercise, named PRAGATI 2026, has brought together troops from India and 12 partner nations — Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. According to Mahender Rawat, the joint exercise is aimed at improving interoperability and coordination among participating armies through tactical drills, joint planning exercises and simulated counter-terror operations in difficult terrain conditions. Officials said the training programme will focus on endurance, adaptability, discipline and operational coordination in challenging environments. Troops from different countries will also exchange field experiences and develop common approaches to dealing with regional security threats.
The Indian Army is also showcasing indigenous defence equipment and innovations developed under the Centre’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative during the exercise. Officials said the exhibition is expected to create interaction between foreign contingents and Indian defence manufacturers while highlighting India’s growing defence production capabilities. Military officials stated that the exercise is intended to strengthen regional defence cooperation, improve intelligence-sharing mechanisms and build long-term military partnerships among participating countries. Apart from military drills, cultural exchange programmes and professional interactions have also been included to deepen engagement between the armed forces of participating nations.
Officials said PRAGATI stands for “Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region” and reflects efforts to promote cooperation based on shared security interests, equality and mutual respect. Senior military officers and dignitaries attended the opening ceremony of the exercise. Sunil Sheoran, Additional Director General of Infantry, welcomed the participating contingents and stressed the importance of collective cooperation in addressing evolving security challenges.