Uzbekistan, India Launch “Dustlik-7” Military Drills

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Joint military exercises between Uzbekistan and India, titled “Dustlik-7,” have begun in the Namangan region, according to a statement from the Indian Ministry of Defence.

The exercises are taking place at the Gurumsaray training ground and will continue until April 25. They are held annually on a rotational basis in India and Uzbekistan. Last year, similar drills were conducted at the Foreign Training Node facility in Aundh, Pune.

On the Indian side, around 60 service members are participating, including 45 infantry personnel from the Mahar Regiment and 15 representatives of the Air Force. Uzbekistan is represented by a comparable number of personnel from its Ground Forces and Air Force.

The main objective of the exercises is to enhance military cooperation and improve joint operational capabilities in semi-mountainous terrain. The program includes physical training, joint planning, tactical operations, and the use of specialized weapons, as well as coordination between command structures of the two countries.

Special focus is placed on terrain navigation, operations against a simulated adversary, and territorial control exercises. Indian troops are also familiarizing themselves with the tactical approaches of Uzbekistan’s Armed Forces and exchanging operational experience.

The final stage will involve a 48-hour joint exercise, during which special operations aimed at neutralizing simulated illegal armed groups will be conducted.

The Ministry of Defence stated that the “Dustlik” exercises contribute to the exchange of best practices, strengthen interoperability, and enhance coordination between military contingents of both countries, while further developing bilateral defense cooperation.