Joint military exercise of 13 nations begins in Meghalaya, focus on counter-terrorism operations

Key points

• A joint military exercise comprising defence personnel from 13 countries began in Meghalaya on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) with a focus on counter-terrorism operations, officials said.
• Defence PRO Lieutenant Colonel Mahender Rawat told Press Trust of India (PTI) that multilateral military exercise 'PRAGATI 2026' (Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region) commenced at Umroi Military Station with the participation of 12 friendly nations — Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
• "The two-week exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain.
• The training programme will include joint planning exercises, tactical-level drills and coordinated operations designed to improve adaptability, endurance and tactical proficiency of participating troops," he added.
• Rawat said the emphasis will be laid on physical fitness, discipline and coordination while operating in challenging conditions.