Armies from 13 countries came together in Meghalaya’s Umroi for the maiden multilateral military exercise ‘Pragati 2026’, which concluded on Saturday, focusing on counter-insurgency operations and strengthening mutual trust among Indian Ocean region nations, officials said.
Over 400 soldiers, including around 20 women personnel, from Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and India participated in the two-week exercise, which involved complex operational drills such as heliborne operations, improvised explosive device (IED) detection, rock craft and tactical movement in semi-mountainous terrain.
Troops were seen slithering down from helicopters, conducting counter-IED drills along routes and scaling rocky surfaces as part of simulated combat scenarios aimed at enhancing interoperability among participating forces.
Officials said detailed discussions were also held on integrating niche and emerging technologies into military operations and understanding their impact on tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs).
Brigadier Mayur Shekatkar, chief coordinator of the exercise, said Pragati was conducted in the serene environment of Umroi and included specialised drills such as rock craft, heliborne operations and tactical scenario-based training.
Director of the exercise, Colonel Sandeep Poonia, said ‘Pragati’ stands for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region.
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“The aim is to create synergy, interoperability, and enhance mutual trust among friendly foreign nations. Over the last two weeks, we trained together with focus on counter-insurgency operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain,” Poonia said.
He added that discussions also covered the incorporation of advanced technologies into operational planning and their influence on evolving military procedures.
The exercise also emphasised engineering support in combat environments, including counter-IED drills conducted in simulated operational conditions.
Major Susmita S Variar, representing the engineering contingent, said participation in mixed multinational groups provided exposure to varied tactical drills, equipment and operating procedures, enhancing coordination and interoperability.
She added that the exercise enabled personnel to share best practices in engineering tasks under field conditions.
Participating foreign contingents expressed gratitude to the Indian Army for hosting the exercise.
Lieutenant Colonel Sangay Jantsho of the Royal Bhutan Army said the exercise provided valuable exposure and an opportunity to exchange expertise in counter-insurgency operations.
Staff Sergeant Mary Simongo of the Philippines said participants gained significant knowledge and experience, which would be carried back to their respective countries.
Lt. Col. Louis Agathine of Seychelles highlighted historical ties with India and said such engagements strengthen friendship across the Indian Ocean region and build long-term cooperation.
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