Shillong: The first-of-its-kind multinational Army exercise, ‘PRAGATI’ (Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region), concluded at Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya on Saturday with a 72-hour validation drill aimed at testing interoperability and strengthening collective responses to shared security challenges.
The exercise, held from May 20 to May 30, brought together more than 400 military personnel from 13 countries — India, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the final 72-hour exercise validated operational concepts developed during the training period and demonstrated the ability of participating forces to operate together in complex security scenarios.
The multinational exercise focused primarily on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain, reflecting the type of challenges often encountered across the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.
Training modules included rock craft, ambush and counter-ambush operations, slithering, jungle lane shooting, room and bus intervention drills, improvised explosive device (IED) detection, casualty evacuation procedures and other specialised military skills.
To enhance interoperability, soldiers from different countries trained in mixed teams throughout the exercise. Officials said the approach strengthened operational coordination, mutual trust and professional understanding among participating armies.
Beyond military training, the exercise also encouraged cultural exchange and informal interactions, helping build stronger ties among the participating nations.
As part of the event, the Indian Army, in partnership with the ficci.in�, organised a defence equipment exhibition showcasing indigenous military technologies and equipment.
The Army Design Bureau and Indian defence manufacturers displayed advanced domestically developed systems, while the Indian Army showcased several new-generation platforms currently in service. Officials said the exhibition highlighted India’s growing defence manufacturing capabilities under the aatmanirbharsena.mod.gov.in� and created opportunities for defence exports and international collaboration.
The concluding validation event was attended by vice chiefs from six countries and more than 40 senior military officials representing the participating nations.
Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, Vice Chief of the Indian Army, hosted the visiting military delegations during the closing ceremony.
Defence officials described PRAGATI as a significant step towards enhancing regional military cooperation, strengthening collective security frameworks and promoting deeper strategic engagement among friendly nations in the Indian Ocean region.
