A contingent of the Indian Army has departed for Mongolia to participate in the multinational military exercise KHAAN QUEST. The 21st multinational KHAAN QUEST exercise will be held in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 27 July to 9 August 2024.

About KHAAN QUEST Military Exercise

Khaan QUEST is an annual multinational military exercise co-sponsored by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and hosted annually by the Mongolian Armed Forces to promote regional peace and security in the region.

When the military exercise started in 2003, it was a bilateral military exercise between the United States of American armed forces and the Mongolian defence forces.

However, from 2006 onwards, friendly countries were also invited to participate in military exercises, and it became a multilateral exercise.

The multinational military exercise brings together the armed forces of various countries around the world to share their best practices in Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for conducting joint operations.

Indian Army and KHAAN QUEST

India has been a regular participant in the KHAAN QUEST military exercise. This year, the Indian Army contingent consists of 40 personnel from the Madras Battalion and personnel from other Arms and Services. Three female personnel - one officer and two soldiers are also part of the Indian contingent.

The Indian Army will train to work in peacekeeping operations with multinational forces. This will sharpen the Indian force's peacekeeping skills in a foreign country. This experience will be very handy when the Indian forces are deployed in future United Nations-mandated peacekeeping operations.

India Mongolia Military Ties

India and Mongolia share strong defence ties, and the Joint Working Group on Defence between the two countries meets regularly.

India and Mongolia conduct a bilateral Nomadic Elephant military exercise between the two armies. The 16th bilateral Nomadic Elephant was held at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi (Meghalaya) in July 2024.

About Mongolia

Mongolia is a landlocked country in North Central Asia. Russia surrounds it in the north and China in the south.

It is predominantly a Buddhist country which follows the Tibetan branch of Buddhism.

Capital Ulaanbaatar (Ulan Bator)

Currency: Tugrik

Prime Minister: Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene