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.

Mr. Rawat said the emphasis will be laid on physical fitness, discipline and coordination while operating in challenging conditions.

"As part of the exercise, Indian technology and defence companies will showcase indigenous equipment and innovations under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and highlighting India's growing capabilities in defence production, innovation and self-reliance," he added.

The objectives of the exercise include enabling seamless coordination among participating nations in joint operations, identifying common areas of cooperation, sharing expertise and establishing an institutionalised mechanism for exchange of best practices evolved through individual experiences.

Strengthening defence ties and camaraderie through joint training and cultural exchange, and evolving common concepts for management and sharing of intelligence in a multinational environment are also part of this elite programme.

"PRAGATI, which stands for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region, is being conducted in the spirit of equality, friendship and mutual respect," the PRO stated.

The exercise provides a common platform for participating armies to engage in professional exchange, learn from one another's experiences and build closer military-to-military ties, he added.

"Exercise PRAGATI 2026 is expected to further strengthen military-to-military cooperation, deepen professional bonds and contribute towards a shared approach to common security challenges among regional partners," Mr. Rawat said.

The contingents were accorded a warm and traditional welcome by the Indian Army on their arrival. The opening ceremony was attended by senior military officials and dignitaries.

Indian Army Major General and Additional Director General of Infantry, Sunil Sheoran, welcomed all contingents and highlighted the importance of collective engagement in addressing contemporary security challenges.

He encouraged all participants to engage with openness, mutual respect and a willingness to learn from one another's experiences, while highlighting that the strengths and perspectives brought by each nation would contribute meaningfully towards achieving the collective objectives of the exercise.