New Delhi, Jun 18: An Indian Army contingent departed on Thursday to participate in the multinational military exercise Khaan Quest 2026, scheduled to be held from June 20 to July 3 at the Five Hills Training Area in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The exercise will bring together armed forces from several countries to enhance interoperability and cooperation in peace support operations conducted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
The Indian contingent comprises 40 personnel, primarily drawn from a battalion of the Jat Regiment, along with troops from other arms and services of the Indian Army.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the exercise aims to prepare participating contingents for UN peacekeeping missions in a multinational environment. The training will include joint planning and tactical drills such as establishing static and mobile checkpoints, cordon-and-search operations, patrolling, evacuation of civilians from hostile areas, counter-improvised explosive device (IED) drills, combat first aid and casualty evacuation.
Khaan Quest began as a bilateral exercise between the United States and the Mongolian Armed Forces in 2003 and evolved into a multinational peacekeeping exercise in 2006. The 2026 edition marks the 23rd iteration of the exercise. The previous edition was held in Mongolia in June 2025.
The Ministry said India’s participation reflects its commitment to global peacekeeping efforts and its strategic partnership with Mongolia. The exercise is expected to provide an opportunity for participating militaries to exchange best practices, enhance operational readiness and strengthen professional ties and camaraderie among soldiers from different countries.
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