India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise: 'KAZIND 2024'

KAZIND-2024 Overview

• 8th edition of India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise
• Commenced on September 30, 2024, at Surya Foreign Training Node, Auli, Uttarakhand
• Scheduled to conclude on October 13, 2024
• Annual exercise since 2016, alternating between India and Kazakhstan
• Previous edition held in Otar, Kazakhstan (October 30 - November 11, 2023)
• Aims to enhance joint military capability and counter-terrorism operations
• Conducted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter

Participating Forces

Indian contingent:

• • 120 personnel from the Indian Armed Forces
  • Battalion from the Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army
  • Personnel from other arms and services
  • Indian Air Force representatives

Kazakhstan contingent:

• • Mainly personnel from Land Forces
  • Air Borne Assault Troopers

Opening ceremony attended by:

• • Colonel Karibayev Nurlan Serikbayevich (Commander of Kazakhstan contingent)
  • Colonel Yogesh Upadhyay (Commander of Indian contingent)

Exercise Objectives and Focus Areas

• Enhance joint military capability for counter-terrorism operations
• Focus on operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain
• Improve physical fitness of participating troops
• Rehearse and refine tactical-level operations
• Share best practices between the two armed forces

Tactical drills include:

• • Joint response to terrorist actions
  • Establishment of Joint Command Post
  • Intelligence and Surveillance Centre setup
  • Securing helipads and landing sites
  • Combat free fall and Special Heliborne Operations
  • Cordon and search operations
  • Employment of drones and counter-drone systems
• Develop interoperability between the two armies
• Foster bonhomie and camaraderie among participants

India-Kazakhstan Defence Relations

• Diplomatic ties established on February 22, 1992
• 'Defence and Military Technical Cooperation' agreement signed in July 2015
• Framework for bilateral cooperation in defence sector includes:
  • Military-technical cooperation
  • Military education and training
  • Joint exercises
• Kazakhstan troops deployed under Indian command for UN peacekeeping in Lebanon (2018)
• KAZIND exercise enhances military-to-military relations
• Strengthens overall defence ties between the two nations