EX-DUSTLIK Military Exercise

Context

The 3rd edition of this exercise is being conducted at Yangiarik, Uzbekistan from 22nd to 31st March 2022.

• EX- DUSTLIK’s is a joint training exercise that is conducted between the armies of India and Uzbekistan. 

Key-points

• Ex-DUSTLIK’s last edition was conducted in March 2021 in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand.
• To take part in this exercise, the Indian contingent is being represented by a platoon strength of Grenadiers Regiment.
• The Indian regiment will be joined by a contingent of the Uzbekistan Army which is being represented by North Western Military District troops.
• The Grenadiers battalion that will represent India at this exercise is one of the Indian Army’s highly decorated battalions.

About EX-DUSTLIK

• It is a joint training exercise between Indian and Uzbekistan armies.
• It would focus on Counter Terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain under a United Nations Mandate. 
• The Grenadiers Battalion nominated for the exercise has the unique distinction of participating in almost all the Pre and Post Independence Operations. 

• The unit has been awarded eight Pre-Independence Battle Honours. 
• Post Independence, it has earned theatre honour ‘RAJASTHAN’ in 1965 war and battle honour ‘JARPAL’ in 1971 war.

Objectives

• This joint exercise between the two armies will focus on Counter-Terrorism operations conducted in semi-urban terrain under a mandate of the United Nations.
• This exercise’s training schedule will aim at learning the best practices from each other and sharing drills at a tactical level. 
• The exercise will also aim to boost the cooperation, understanding, and interoperability between the armies of both nations.
• This exercise will finish with a validation exercise of 24-hours which will be a testbed for the armies of both nations as they will be undergoing simulated operations-related challenges.