Assam’s Misamari echoed with the sounds of triumph as the 13th Indo-Kyrgyz joint exercise, Khanjar 2026, wrapped up on Tuesday following a formal closing event. Spanning February 4-17, 2026, it united top-tier special forces from India and Kyrgyzstan in a pursuit of enhanced tactical prowess and brotherhood.
With 20 warriors from each side—India’s Parachute Regiment (SF) and Kyrgyzstan’s Ilbirs Special Forces—the agenda included counter-terror ops, precision drills, city fighting techniques, and scenario-based UN training. Exchanging proven methods, they built stronger interoperability and reliability.
A fixture since 2011, this yearly drill alternates hosts; the last one was in Kyrgyzstan last March.
Satisfaction prevailed at the ceremony, where the exercise was lauded for skill-building and recommitting to joint security goals against terror and insurgency. It cements a vital pillar in bilateral defense relations.
Separately, Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra, head of Western Air Command, toured a critical air station. After a ceremonial welcome, he evaluated operations, flew an SU-30MKI mission, and motivated the team for their spirited professionalism.
The visit was pivotal in assessing IAF strengths. ‘Our teams stand ready for every challenge,’ he affirmed, boosting morale and emphasizing national security imperatives.