Joint military exercise 'Dustlik' conducted between India and Uzbekistan

A contingent of 60 personnel of the Indian Army has reached for the 7th edition of the India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise 'Exercise Dustlik '.

This exercise, which is being conducted from 12 April to 25 April, 2026 in Namangan, Uzbekistan.

The sixth joint military exercise ‘Dustlik’ (Dustlik-VI) 2025 between India and Uzbekistan was conducted from 15 to 28 April, 2025 at the Foreign Training Node located in Aundh, Pune.

The Ministry of Defence stated that this exercise is conducted annually alternately in India and Uzbekistan, with the objective of promoting military cooperation and enhancing joint capabilities to conduct joint operations in semi-mountainous areas.

It will enable both sides to share their best experiences in strategies, techniques and procedures for conducting joint operations, and will further strengthen mutual coordination, operational coordination and joint command and control coordination between both contingents.

This event will also provide an opportunity to enhance the level of defence cooperation, which will further promote bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.

'Exercise Dustlik'

The contingent of the Indian Armed Forces includes 45 personnel of the Indian Army—most of whom are from a battalion of the 'Mahar Regiment'—and 15 personnel of the Indian Air Force. The Uzbekistan contingent also includes a total of 60 personnel from the Army and Air Force of Uzbekistan.

This exercise, which was first conducted in 2019, is an annual bilateral event conducted alternately in India and Uzbekistan.

The 7th edition also includes training on integration of the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) along with personnel of the Uzbekistan Armed Forces.

Uzbekistan country

Uzbekistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan (north), Kyrgyzstan (north-east), Tajikistan (south-east), Afghanistan (south) and Turkmenistan (south-west).

The capital and largest city of Uzbekistan is Tashkent. It is a major political, economic and cultural center of Central Asia, and has also been a historic city of the ancient Silk Road.

In its eastern part lie mountain ranges such as the Tien Shan, Gissar and Alai, while fertile regions like the Fergana Valley and Zeravshan Valley support agriculture as well as historic cities like Samarkand and Bukhara.

It is a 'doubly landlocked' country (that is, it is surrounded only by countries that are themselves landlocked); the only other such country is Liechtenstein.

Uzbekistan holds strategic importance in Central Asia; it includes the autonomous region of Karakalpakstan, and plays an important role in regional geopolitics and India's engagement with Central Asia.

India-Uzbekistan relations

Indian investment by Indian companies includes investment in the sectors of pharmaceuticals, amusement parks, automobile components and the hospitality industry.

Amity University and Sharda University have opened campuses in Tashkent and Andijan respectively.

Indian institutions such as iCreate are actively collaborating with Uzbek counterparts to promote the startup ecosystem in Uzbekistan and to train entrepreneurs to establish incubators.