COAS Flags In Joint Indo-Argentine Army Mountaineering Expedition

General Dhiraj Seth, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), flagged in the Joint Indo-Argentine Army Mountaineering Expedition in New Delhi. "Flagging in" is the welcome given to a team after it completes its mission. The team had successfully climbed two high Himalayan peaks.

Indo-Argentine Army Mountaineering Expedition: Successful Ascent of Mt Abi Gamin and Mt Kamet

The expedition was flagged off from the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, on 21 August 2026. It was led by Lieutenant Colonel Chirag Chatterjee.

The joint team reached the summits of two major Himalayan peaks within five days of each other in September 2026.

Mt Abi Gamin (7,355 metres)

The team reached the top of Mt Abi Gamin on 17 September 2026. This was the first of the two summits.

Mt Kamet (7,756 metres)

Four days later, on 21 September 2026, the team climbed Mt Kamet. The peak lies in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, and is described as the third-highest in India after Mt Kanchenjunga and Mt Nanda Devi.

Challenges Faced

The 35 mountaineers had to deal with freezing temperatures, strong winds, snowfields, steep rock faces and crevasses (deep cracks in the ice). Completing both climbs in such conditions showed their stamina, technical skill, mental strength and strong teamwork.

Participating Armies in the Joint Indo-Argentine Army Mountaineering Expedition

The expedition had 35 members from two armies:

• Indian Army: 25 personnel
• Argentine Army: 10 personnel

Earlier Joint Expeditions

This is the third joint climb by the two armies. The first two were:

1. Mt Aconcagua (6,962 metres) in Mendoza, Argentina, in January 2025
2. Mt Kun (7,077 metres) in the Suru Valley, Ladakh, in August 2025

How Is the Joint Indo-Argentine Army Mountaineering Expedition Important for India?

1. Stronger defence ties: Working together builds trust, friendship and professional cooperation between the two armies.
2. Interoperability: Soldiers learn to operate as one team, which helps in future joint exercises and missions.
3. High-altitude experience: Climbing in harsh terrain gives valuable training. This is useful for India, which guards difficult mountain borders in the Himalayas.
4. Global partnership: Such expeditions show India's growing defence cooperation with friendly countries like Argentina.