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In a significant boost to India’s defence diplomacy and commitment to global peacekeeping, an Indian Army contingent has arrived in Mongolia to participate in the multinational military exercise Khaan Quest 2025, scheduled from June 14 to 28 in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar.
The exercise, conducted under the United Nations mandate, comes at a time of heightened geopolitical sensitivity in the region—particularly with China, which is watching India’s growing military outreach in Mongolia with visible unease.
Strengthening Multinational Cooperation and Gender Inclusion
The Indian contingent comprises 40 personnel, primarily from the Kumaon Regiment. Notably, it includes one woman officer and two female soldiers, reaffirming India’s commitment to gender inclusivity in its international military engagements.
Khaan Quest, now in its 22nd edition, has evolved into a premier multinational peacekeeping exercise. Originating as a bilateral drill between the United States and Mongolia in 2003, it became a full-fledged multinational effort by 2006. It now serves as a critical platform for partner nations to collaborate on evolving security challenges, particularly those related to UN peacekeeping under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
Realistic Peacekeeping Scenarios
Participants will train for high-pressure scenarios, including static and mobile checkpoints, patrolling, cordon-and-search operations, IED detection and neutralization, and combat casualty management. These exercises aim to build interoperability and rapid-response capabilities necessary for real-world peacekeeping deployments.
Strategic Context: India’s Outreach and China’s Silent Watch
Though not a participant, China’s shadow looms large over the proceedings, given Mongolia’s strategic location between China and Russia. India’s growing defence cooperation with Ulaanbaatar is increasingly viewed as a component of its “Act East” policy, aimed at strengthening strategic linkages in the broader Indo-Pacific region.
The ongoing exercise follows closely on the heels of Exercise Nomadic Elephant, a bilateral India-Mongolia drill that concluded on June 13. Held alternately in both countries, Nomadic Elephant focuses on high-altitude and semi-urban warfare—domains of critical importance to India’s security environment along the Himalayan frontier.
Defence Diplomacy with a Human Touch
Beyond tactical training, these exercises foster deep military-to-military ties through cultural exchanges and people-to-people interactions, crucial for collaboration in multinational UN peacekeeping environments.
Exercise #KhaanQuest 2025#IndianArmy contingent will participate in 22nd edition of Multinational Joint Military Exercise #KhaanQuest 2025, being conducted in #Mongolia from 14 to 28 June 2025.
This exercise aims to strengthen interoperability among the armed forces of… pic.twitter.com/3CzJ9QiDoc
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) June 10, 2025
A senior Indian Army official summed up the importance:
“These exercises simulate real-world conditions under the UN flag. Our troops not only improve their tactical readiness but also learn to operate alongside diverse military doctrines in complex environments.”
As the global security landscape becomes increasingly multipolar, Ulaanbaatar has emerged as a quiet but significant arena for shaping the next generation of military cooperation and diplomacy.
Team BharatShakti
