Ranikhet, Uttarakhand. India – Uzbekistan joint military exercise “DUSTLIK II” commenced in Foreign Training Node Chaubatia, Ranikhet in Uttarakhand on March 10.

This is the Second Edition of annual bilateral joint exercise of both armies. It will continue till March 19, 2021. The first edition of the exercise was held at Uzbekistan in November 2019.

Forty five soldiers each from Uzbekistan and Indian Army are participating in the exercise. Both contingents will be sharing their expertise and skills in the field of counter terrorist operations in mountainous/rural/urban scenario under UN mandate.

The exercise will culminate into a 36 hours joint validation exercise scheduled from March 17 to 18. The validation exercise will be a test bed for the soldiers of both armies as they would be undergoing the challenges of actual operations in such scenarios.

This joint exercise will definitely provide impetus to the ever growing military and diplomatic ties between the two nations, and also reflects the strong resolve of both nations to counter terrorism.