• Special forces of India and Kyrgyzstan kick-started a 13-day exercise in Himachal Pradesh’s Bakloh.

• It is the 11th edition of India-Kyrgyzstan annual ‘Khanjar’ exercise.

• The Indian Army contingent comprised 20 personnel from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) while the Kyrgyz team with equal number of personnel is being represented by the Kyrgyz special forces’ Scorpion brigade.

• The aim of the exercise is to exchange experiences and best practices in counter-terrorism and special forces operations in built-up area and mountainous terrain under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

• The exercise will emphasise on developing special forces skills, advanced techniques of insertion and extraction.

• It will provide an opportunity for both sides to fortify defence ties while addressing common concerns of international terrorism and extremism.

India-Kyrgyzstan relations

• Historically, India has had close contacts with Central Asia, especially countries which were part of the ancient Silk Route, including Kyrgyzstan. 

• During the Soviet era, India and Kyrgyzstan had limited political, economic and cultural contacts. After the independence of Kyrgyzstan on August 31, 1991, India was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations on March 18, 1992.

• Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, the two countries have signed several framework agreements, including on culture, trade and economic cooperation, civil aviation, investment promotion and protection, avoidance of double taxation, consular convention, etc.

• India and Kyrgyzstan established a Strategic Partnership in 2015.

• The India-Kyrgyz Republic Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation was set up in 1992.

• A five year roadmap to enhance trade and investments was signed between India and Kyrgyzstan in June 2019.

• Bilateral trade during the year 2022 was nearly $118 million. India’s exports to Kyrgyzstan were $107 million, while India’s imports were $11 million.

• India’s exports comprise sugar & sugar confectionery, pharmaceutical products, electric machinery & equipment, articles of clothing & clothing accessories (knitted, crocheted or crocheted), organic chemical compounds & nuclear reactors.

• Imports to India include oil-seeds, fruits, medicinal plants, straw, fodder, mineral fuel, oil and products of their distillation, vegetables, tubers etc.

• Bilateral cooperation between the two countries has steadily increased in recent years. Agreement on defence cooperation, signed in July 2015, has been an important milestone that has laid the framework for defence cooperation between the two sides.

• Joint Special Forces Exercise Khanjar has now become an annual affair.

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