In the overcast light of early morning in Misamari, Assam on Sunday, a special brotherhood was formed. On 4th February, 2026 the quiet of Sonitpur district was shattered by the rhythmic clatter of marching boots as Ex KHANJAR entered its 13th edition. This is more than just a regular military drill—this bilateral training exercise between India and Kyrgyzstan is an insightful, high-octane lesson plan in special operations, meant to polish the “dagger”—literally translating from Khanjar—of the elite soldiers of both nations.
With the global security scenario turning more and more formidable, the relationship has shifted from just diplomacy to a full-fledged practical strategic alliance ranging from trade to the military. Until February 17, soldiers from both countries will sleep, eat, train and plan together in a joint action against the shared darkness of terrorism and extremism.
The Special Forces Edge: Who is Playing?
But Exercise KHANJAR, like common infantry exercises, concentrates only on the “point of the spear”—the SF.
India: The Para SF, or the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), is the Indian part of the contingent. They are the same “Red Berets” that specialize in unconventional warfare, high-altitude operations and surgical strikes.
From Kyrgyzstan The Scorpion Brigade has reached Assam. Widely known as the most highly trained unit of the Kyrgyz forces, the Scorpions specialise in mountain warfare, and have long been a key pillar of security across Central Asia.
Some 20 personnel from the Kyrgyz side will participate in this year’s exercise (KHANJAR-XIII) with a similar contingent of Indian Army. Though the numbers may seem tiny compared with huge traditional war games, what’s going on here is an effort at interoperability down to a granular, tactical level — where every soldier plays a part and just one soldier’s performance can make the difference between success and failure.
Urban warfare and the UN mandate
The main training scenario for 2026 is Urban Warfare and Counter-Terrorism operations, operating with a UN resolution. This is a critical distinction. The battlefield today is the “grey zones” and teeming cities in which enemy forces are mixed with innocent populations.
Why Misamari? Strategic Significance of the Location
There was a reason why the Indian army chose Misamari in Assam as the host site for this year’s joint exercise. This area presents different types of terrain — from riverine plains to forests-covered hills — similar to the topographies in which special forces are most likely deployed.
Hosting Exercise Hand-In-Hand in the northeastern region is a subtle but strong indicator of New Delhi’s resolve for internal security and its capability to invite international partners to varied geographical theatres. The 13th edition of Exercise KHANJAR is the country-wise rotation exercise and the last edition was held in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan in March 2025. This “home and away” rivalry ensures that both armies attain experience of each other’s climate, terrain, and logistical complexities.
Behind Enemy Lines: The Human Factor
Special Forces troops are a class of their own — one that speaks the same language of discipline, sacrifice and technical ability across national boundaries.
In previous times, Indian soldiers have participated in the spring festival of Kyrgyz known as Nowruz and Kyrgyz soldiers were hosted for some Indian traditional activities. These expressions of solidarity are the “soft power” that can to feed into “hard power.” I: In the heat of the battle, Soldiers must be able to trust each other not only as comrades-in-arms, but also as fellow human beings.
“A partnership is on paper, but a brotherhood is in the mud,” said a senior officer during an opening ceremony. “What we’ve been doing in Misamari isn’t just practicing weapons drills, but learning how to think like each other.”
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Geopolitically, KHANJAR-XIII is an important cog in India’s “Connect Central Asia” policy. The Kyrgyz Republic is a key partner in the region bridging Europe and Asia. Intensifying military links allows India to have a say in the security discourse related to Central Asia, especially with regard to stability of the Eurasian landmass.
The drill also showcases the KIMBMRC (Kyrgyz-India Mountain Bio-Medical Research Centre) in Bishkek, where both countries carry out joint research for high altitude subjects. This scientific and defense partnership makes the India-Kyrgyzstan relationship one of the most robust in the region.
What’s Next: The Path to Feb 17
With the exercises continuing through the next two weeks, things will get more intense from classroom briefings to live-fire drills and simulated “night-op” rescues. The ultimate validation exercise will almost certainly be a combined raid to “neutralize” a simulated terror hideout in a simulated urban area, the culmination of all their shared abilities.
The launch of KHANJAR-XIII today is a reminder that in an age of high-tech drones and cyber warfare, the “boots on the ground”—a special breed of highly trained human input—provide the highest level deterrent against terror.
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