12th India-Kyrgyzstan Exercise Khanjar Commences in Kyrgyzstan
Military exercise
4 min read
The 12th India- Kyrgyzstan joint military exercise, Khanjar, commenced in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on March 10, 2025. The 12th edition of the annual bilateral Khanjar exercise will be held from March 10 to 23, 2025.
The 11th edition of the Khanjar exercise was held at the Indian Army’s Special Forces Training School Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh, from 22 January to 03 February 2024.
History of the Khanjar Exercise
The first edition of the Khanjar exercise was hosted by the Indian Army in India in 2011. During Prime Minister Narednra Modi's visit to Kyrgyzstan in 2015, he proposed that the exercise be held every year.
After the acceptance of Prime Minister Modi’s proposal, the Khanjar exercise has been held every year.
It is hosted alternately by both countries.
Nature of the Khanjar Exercise
The elite Special Forces of both countries' armies participates in the Khanjar exercise.
The exercise focuses on counter-terrorism operations and special forces operations in built-up areas and mountainous terrain.
This year's edition of the Khanajar exercise will also focus on developing the sniping skills of the special forces, complex building intervention, and mountain craft.
The Khanajar exercise is also part of the effort of both the countries to strengthen their bilateral relationship, especially in defence.
To promote the friendly ties between the defence personnel of both the countries, the Indian contingent will participate in Kyrgyzstan's festival of Nowruz.
Nowruz festival
- Nowruz, also spelled Novruz, Navruz, Nooruz, Nevruz, or Nauryz, in Persian, means new day, is the first day of the month of Farvardīn on the Iranian calendar.
- The United Nations General Assembly has declared March 21 as International Nowruz Day.
- The festival is celebrated on the vernal equinox, on 20 or 21 March. This year, it is being celebrated on 20 March 2025.
Participants of the 12th Khanjar exercise
In the Khanjar exercise, a 20-member contingent of the Special Forces participates.
India is represented by the Indian Army’s Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), while Kyzystan’s side is represented by its elite Scorpion Brigade.
The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) of the Indian Army was raised in 1966 and is the part of the Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army. It was the first commando unit of the Indian Army, and it specialises in rapid deployment behind enemy lines and sabotaging their war efforts.
