India and Uzbekistan Begin 6th Edition of Joint Military Exercise ‘DUSTLIK-VI’ in Pune.

In April 2025, the 6th edition of the India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise (DUSTLIK-VI) commenced at the Foreign Training Node (FTN) in Aundh, Pune, Maharashtra. Scheduled from April 16 to 28, 2025, the 13-day exercise aims to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and enhance joint counter-terrorism strategies, particularly in semi-urban operational environments.

      - The joint military exercise ‘DUSTLIK’—meaning ‘friendship’ in Uzbek—is an annual bilateral initiative between India and Uzbekistan, conducted alternately in both countries since its inception in 2019. It aims to foster deeper military collaboration through the exchange of tactical knowledge, operational techniques, and best practices in subconventional warfare operations.

      - The exercise plays a vital role in enhancing defence cooperation and building mutual trust between the two nations. The previous edition, DUSTLIK-V, was held in April 2024 in the Termez District of Uzbekistan, continuing the tradition of strengthening strategic ties through shared military training experiences.

      - The DUSTLIK-VI exercise focuses on Joint Multi-Domain Sub-Conventional Operations in semi-urban environments, simulating a range of counter-terrorism missions. These include territory capture, setting up a Joint Operations Centre at the battalion level, implementing population control measures, conducting raids, executing search-and-destroy operations, and ensuring coordinated deployment of air assets to enhance operational synergy.

Main Point :-   (i) The participating contingents in DUSTLIK-VI include 60 personnel from a battalion of the Indian Army's JAT Regiment along with Garud Commandos from the Indian Air Force (IAF), while the Uzbekistan contingent comprises personnel from the Uzbekistan Army.

      (ii) The key focus areas of DUSTLIK-VI include intensive counter-terrorism drills simulating scenarios like territory capture by terrorists, population control, raids, and search-and-destroy missions. A Joint Operations Centre (JOC) is established at the battalion level to facilitate coordinated planning and execution of operations between the participating forces.

(iii) Additionally, the exercise emphasizes the integration of air force capabilities such as Special Heliborne Operations (SHBO), Small Team Insertion and Extraction (STIE), reconnaissance, and logistics using helicopters. Advanced technology deployment also plays a crucial role, with the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) measures to enhance operational efficiency.
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