Indian Army contingent departs for Mongolia, to participate in exercise KHAAN QUEST

The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from July 27 to August 9 at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The exercise will bring together military forces from around the world to collaborate and enhance their peacekeeping capabilities.

The last edition of Exercise KHAAN QUEST was conducted in Mongolia from June 19 to July 2.

The exercise first started as a bilateral event between the US and Mongolian Armed Forces in 2003. Subsequently, from the year 2006 onwards, the exercise graduated to a multinational peacekeeping exercise, with the current year being the 21st iteration, the release stated.

The Indian Army contingent, comprising 40 personnel, is being represented mainly by troops from a battalion of the MADRAS REGIMENT along with personnel from other arms and services. One woman officer and two women soldiers will also form part of the contingent, the ministry stated.

The aim of Exercise KHAAN QUEST is to prepare the Indian Armed Forces for peacekeeping missions while operating in a multinational environment, thereby increasing interoperability and military readiness in peace support operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The exercise will focus on a high degree of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical drills.

Tactical drills to be practiced during the exercise will include the establishment of static and mobile check points, cordon and search operations, patrolling, evacuation of civilians from hostile areas, counter-improvised explosive device drills, combat first aid and casualty evacuation, among others.

"Exercise KHAAN QUEST will enable the participating countries to share their best practices in tactics, Techniques and procedures for conduct of joint operations. The exercise will facilitate developing interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers of the participating countries," the Ministry added. (ANI)