India to participate in multinational exercise ‘Khaan Quest’

• Multinational military exercise ‘Khaan Quest’ will commence in Mongolia on June 20.

• The two-week exercise, conducted at Five Hills Training Area, Ulaanbaatar, will conclude on July 3. 

• A contingent of the Indian Army will take part in the 23rd edition of the exercise.

• The Indian Army contingent comprising 40 personnel is being represented by troops from a battalion of the Jat Regiment along with personnel from other Arms and Services.

• The exercise will bring together military forces from across the world to collaborate and enhance interoperability in peace support operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. 

• The exercise first started as a bilateral event between USA and Mongolian Defence Forces in the year 2003. 

• Subsequently, from the year 2006 onwards the exercise graduated to a multilateral peacekeeping exercise. 

• The participation by an Indian contingent reflects India’s steadfast commitment to global peace and strategic partnership with Mongolia.

• The aim of Exercise Khaan Quest is to prepare contingents of participating Defence Forces for peacekeeping missions while operating in a multilateral environment. 

• The exercise will focus on conduct of joint planning and tactical drills such as establishment of static and mobile check points, cordon and search operations, patrolling, evacuation of civilians from hostile area, counter improvised explosive device drills, combat first aid and casualty evacuation.

• Exercise Khaan Quest will enable the participating countries to share their best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures for conduct of joint operations. 

• It will facilitate operational readiness, bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers of the participating countries.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)