Shillong, May 30: The maiden edition of the multinational military exercise PRAGATI 2026 concluded at Umroi on Saturday, bringing together more than 400 troops and senior military leaders from 13 countries in one of the largest regional Army cooperation exercises held in the Northeast.
Conducted at the Umroi Military Station near Shillong, the exercise culminated in a 72-hour counter-terrorism validation drill in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain, aimed at enhancing interoperability, combat coordination and collective readiness among participating nations.
The exercise — Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region (PRAGATI) — saw participation from India, Bhutan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia and Laos.
The closing event was attended by six Vice Chiefs of Army and more than 40 senior military officials from participating countries, with Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, Vice Chief of the Army Staff, hosting the delegations.
Over the course of the exercise, troops trained together in specialised operations including ambush and counter-ambush drills, slithering, jungle warfare, room and bus intervention, improvised explosive device detection, casualty evacuation and jungle lane shooting. Mixed teams comprising personnel from different countries carried out the drills together to strengthen coordination and operational synergy.
Officials said the exercise focused on strengthening military-to-military cooperation and building mutual trust among regional partners facing common security challenges.
A major highlight of the exercise was a defence equipment exhibition organised by the Indian Army in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), showcasing indigenous defence technologies and next-generation military systems under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The exhibition featured cutting-edge equipment developed by the Indian defence industry and served as a platform for defence cooperation, technology exchange and export promotion among participating countries.
On the sidelines of the exercise, the Vice Chief of the Army Staff also held bilateral meetings with military representatives of participating nations to deepen defence ties and expand strategic cooperation.
Officials described Exercise PRAGATI 2026 as a significant step towards strengthening regional military partnerships and collective security in the Indian Ocean Region, while laying the groundwork for future editions of the exercise.
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