12 April 2026·PIB

INDIAN ARMY CONTINGENT DEPARTS FOR INDIA- UZBEKISTAN JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE DUSTLIK

In this note

1. At a Glance

Exercise DUSTLIK is the annual bilateral joint military exercise between the Indian and Uzbek armed forces, held alternately in the two countries [1][2].
The 7th edition (2026) is being held at Gurumsaray Field Training Area, Namangan, Uzbekistan, 12–25 April 2026 [1].
Significance for UPSC: anchor of India's Central Asia outreach, links to "Connect Central Asia" policy, counter-terror cooperation, and defence diplomacy in GS-II/III [S5].

On 12 April 2026, an Indian Armed Forces contingent of 60 personnel departed for the 7th edition of Exercise DUSTLIK in Uzbekistan [1].
Contingent: 45 Indian Army personnel (majorly MAHAR Regiment) + 15 Indian Air Force personnel; Uzbek side fields ~60 personnel from Army and Air Force [1].

1st edition: November 2019, Uzbekistan (inception) [2].
2nd edition: concluded 19 March 2021, India (Ranikhet/Chaubatia) [2].
3rd edition: 22–31 March 2022, Yangiarik, Uzbekistan [2].
4th edition: 2023, Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand) Foreign Training Node [2].
5th edition: 15–28 April 2024, Termez, Uzbekistan [2].
6th edition (DUSTLIK-VI): 16–28 April 2025, Foreign Training Node, Aundh (Pune) [2].
7th edition: 12–25 April 2026, Gurumsaray FTA, Namangan, Uzbekistan [1].

Name: Exercise DUSTLIK (Uzbek for "friendship") [1].
Type: Bilateral, annual, alternating venue [1].
Parent ministry: Ministry of Defence, Government of India [1].
Indian regiment in 2026: A battalion of the MAHAR Regiment [1].
Tri-service character: Began as Army-only; 2026 edition is joint Army + IAF [1].
Aim: Foster military cooperation and enhance combined operational capability; sub-conventional operations in semi-urban / mountainous terrain under UN Chapter VII mandate (per past editions) [1].
Defence cooperation framework: Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence, established 2019 [3].
5th JWG on Defence: New Delhi, 11 August 2025; 4th JWG: Uzbekistan, April 2024 [3].
9th JWG on Counter-Terrorism: Tashkent, 30 September 2025 [3].

Geopolitical / Strategic

Reinforces India's foothold in Central Asia, a region critical for energy, connectivity (INSTC, Chabahar), and counter-terror buffering against Afghanistan spillover [3].
Counters the China–Russia dominance in the region via SCO-aligned defence engagement; Uzbekistan is a fellow SCO member [3].
Namangan (venue) lies in the Fergana Valley, historically a hotbed of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) activity — terrain practice has direct CT relevance [1].

Administrative / Defence Diplomacy

Reflects the Joint Working Group format institutionalised since 2019 covering military training, education and defence industrial interaction [3].
COAS Gen Manoj Pande's 2024 visit to Uzbekistan deepened the institutional architecture [2].

Scientific / Technological

Focus on interoperability in drone warfare, counter-IED, and semi-urban joint operations — mirroring lessons from recent global theatres (carried over from DUSTLIK-VI) [2].

Historical

India-Uzbekistan ties trace to Babur (founder of Mughal Empire, born Andijan/Fergana); modern ties formalised post-1991 Soviet dissolution; Strategic Partnership elevated in 2018 [3].

DUSTLIK = bilateral exercise between India and Uzbekistan (NOT multilateral, NOT SCO-wide) [1].
7th edition held at Gurumsaray FTA, Namangan, 12–25 April 2026 [1].
1st edition: 2019, Uzbekistan [2].
2026 Indian contingent: 60 personnel (45 Army + 15 IAF) [1].
Lead Indian regiment in 2026: MAHAR Regiment [1].
2025 (6th) edition venue: Foreign Training Node, Aundh, Pune [2].
2024 (5th) edition venue: Termez, Uzbekistan [2].
2022 (3rd) edition venue: Yangiarik, Uzbekistan [2].
JWG on Defence with Uzbekistan established in 2019 [3].
Uzbekistan and India are both members of the SCO [3].
Namangan lies in the Fergana Valley — Uzbekistan [1].
Implementing ministry: Ministry of Defence (PIB release under MoD) [1].

GS-II: International Relations — India and its neighbourhood/extended neighbourhood; bilateral groupings (India-Central Asia).
GS-III: Security — Various security forces and agencies; counter-terrorism cooperation.
Plausible question stems: 1. "Discuss how joint military exercises like DUSTLIK serve as instruments of India's defence diplomacy in Central Asia." (GS-II) 2. "Examine the strategic significance of Central Asia for India in the post-Afghanistan-withdrawal scenario." (GS-II) 3. "Counter-terrorism cooperation has emerged as the cornerstone of India-Uzbekistan defence ties. Comment." (GS-III)

Connect Central Asia Policy (2012) — overarching framework for the region.
India-Central Asia Summit (1st: Jan 2022, virtual) — institutional apex.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) — India full member since 2017; Uzbekistan founding member.
INSTC & Chabahar Port — connectivity backbone bypassing Pakistan.
Other India-Central Asia exercises: KAZIND (Kazakhstan), TSENTR (Russia-led, Central Asia).
Joint Working Group (JWG) mechanism — template for India's bilateral defence engagement.
MAHAR Regiment — composition, battle honours.
Fergana Valley & IMU — terror geography of Central Asia.

Wrong country: DUSTLIK is with Uzbekistan, not Kazakhstan (that's KAZIND) or Kyrgyzstan (KHANJAR).
Wrong edition count vs year: 1st = 2019; thus 7th = 2026 (NOT 2025).
Tri-service confusion: 2026 edition includes IAF; earlier editions were Army-only — do not assume Navy participation.
Venue confusion: 2026 is Namangan; previous Uzbek venues were Yangiarik and Termez — easy to swap.
Implementing ministry: MoD, NOT MEA (though MEA handles broader bilateral framework).