Kolkata, August 5: A significant meeting of the sixth Joint Working Group on defense cooperation between India and Uzbekistan was held on Wednesday in Tashkent. The meeting was co-chaired by Dinesh Kumar, Joint Secretary in India’s Ministry of Defense, and Lieutenant Colonel Sukhorobjon Sodikjonovich Sirozov, head of the International Military Cooperation Department of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Defense.
The Ministry of Defense shared details of the meeting on the social media platform ‘X’, highlighting discussions on crucial topics such as joint training and military exercises, capacity building, defense education, and the establishment of defense industries. Special training modules will be incorporated into the joint training and military exercises.
The primary focus of these exercises will be on counter-terrorism operations and enhancing coordination between the armed forces of both nations. These exercises will take place in both India and Uzbekistan, providing soldiers with opportunities to learn from each other’s experiences, strategies, and best practices.
Ongoing educational programs and technical assistance under capacity building will be reviewed and improved as necessary. As part of this initiative, the Indian delegation also visited the University of Military Security and Defense in Tashkent.
Discussions also centered on enhancing collaboration in the defense manufacturing sector, as India continues to strengthen its position as a defense exporter. New Delhi is particularly emphasizing the establishment of new industries in the defense sector. Accordingly, topics related to technology transfer and the maintenance of defense equipment were also addressed.
This meeting was held in the context of discussions between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyar Saidov, aimed at further strengthening cooperation in security and critical resources between the two countries.
India and Uzbekistan have a long-standing history of extensive cooperation in the defense sector. This collaboration is advanced through the Joint Working Group, which was established in 2019.
Both nations regularly participate in a joint military exercise called ‘Dustlik’. The seventh edition of this exercise took place from April 12 to 25, 2026, at the Gurumsaray Field Training Area in Namangan, Uzbekistan.
The exercise involved personnel from the Mahar Regiment and the Indian Air Force, aiming to enhance capabilities for joint operations in semi-hilly and semi-urban areas, improve strategic coordination, and foster mutual cooperation.
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