Indian Army contingent to leave for multinational Exercise Khaan Quest 2026 in Mongolia
New Delhi, June 18. An Indian Army contingent is set to leave on June 18 to take part in the multinational military exercise Khaan Quest 2026, scheduled to be held at the Five Hills Training Area in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from June 20 to July 3.
The exercise, now in its 23rd edition, will bring together armed forces from several countries to enhance interoperability and strengthen cooperation in peace support operations mandated under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The previous edition was conducted in Mongolia from June 14 to 28, 2025.
India is fielding a 40-member contingent led by troops from a battalion of the Jat Regiment, with personnel drawn from other arms and services of the Indian Army. According to the Ministry of Defence, India’s participation underscores its commitment to global peacekeeping efforts and its strategic partnership with Mongolia.
Exercise Khaan Quest began in 2003 as a bilateral training event between the United States and the Mongolian armed forces. It evolved into a multinational peacekeeping exercise in 2006 and has since become an important platform for participating countries to train together in a multilateral environment.
The primary objective of the exercise is to prepare contingents for peacekeeping missions by improving their ability to operate jointly. The training programme will include joint planning and tactical drills such as setting up static and mobile checkpoints, cordon and search operations, patrolling, evacuation of civilians from hostile areas, counter-improvised explosive device procedures, combat first aid and casualty evacuation.
The Ministry of Defence said the exercise would provide an opportunity for participating nations to exchange best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures for joint operations. It is also expected to enhance operational readiness while fostering camaraderie and closer ties among the soldiers of the participating countries.
