India's defence ties with Kazakhstan witness uptick with back to back engagements

Defence partnership between India and Kazakhstan has seen an uptick in the recent months with joint exercise and visit of an Indian delegation to Central Asia’s biggest country.

The 8th edition of India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise KAZIND-2024 was held at Surya Foreign Training Node, Auli, Uttarakhand last month. Joint Exercise KAZIND-2024 has been held annually since 2016. Last edition of the Joint Exercise was held at Otar, Kazakhstan from 30th October to 11th November 2023.

The Indian Armed Forces, comprising 120 personnel, were represented by a battalion of the KUMAON Regiment of the Indian Army, along with other arms and services, as well as personnel from the Indian Air Force. The Kazakhstan contingent was represented mainly by personnel from Land Forces and Airborne Assault Troopers.


Aim of the Joint Exercise was to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake counter terrorism operations in a sub conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The Joint Exercise focused on operations in the semi-urban and mountainous terrain. Objectives to be achieved from the Joint Exercise are high degree of physical fitness, rehearsing and refining drills for operations at tactical level and sharing of best practices.

Tactical drills to be rehearsed during the Joint Exercise included a joint response to a terrorist action, establishment of a Joint Command Post, establishment of an Intelligence and Surveillance Centre, securing of helipad / landing site, combat free fall, Special Heliborne Operations, Cordon and Search operations, besides employment of drones and counter drone systems among others.

Joint Exercise KAZIND-2024 enabled both sides to share best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting joint operations. It facilitated developing interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between the two armies. The Joint Exercise will also enhance defence cooperation, further augmenting bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.

A six-member delegation from Kazakhstan Special Forces visited the Special Forces Training School in Himachal Pradesh's Bakloh.

During the visit, the Kazakh delegation not only witnessed the training activities there, but also the infrastructure as well.

Sharing the pictures of the delegation's visit in Bakloh on X on Saturday, the Indian Army wrote, "Kazakhstan Army Delegation Visits Special Forces Training School. A six-member Army Delegation from #Kazakhstan Special Forces visited Special Forces Training School, #SFTS, #Bakloh."

"The delegation witnessed training activities, infrastructure & skill demonstrations to foster #jointness and interoperability," it added.

The Indian delegation's recent visit to Kazakhstan aimed to enhance teamwork, improve interoperability, refine tactical expertise, and strengthen Defence Cooperation between the two nations.