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Not every military exercise makes headlines, and honestly, most aren’t meant to. But some stand out – not because of scale, but because of what they quietly build over time.
That’s the case with Exercise Dustlik
The seventh edition of this joint drill between the Indian Army and the armed forces of Uzbekistan wrapped up recently in Namangan.
On paper, it was another scheduled exercise. In reality, it was a continuation of something both countries have been steadily investing in – working together in a way that feels natural, not forced.
It’s Not About Showing Strength. It’s About Understanding It
When two armies train together, the goal isn’t to impress each other. It’s to figure out how the other side operates when things aren’t perfect.
That’s where exercises like Dustlik matter.
Over the course of the training, both contingents didn’t just run drills side by side. They planned together, moved together, and adjusted to each other’s pace and style. That process is slower than simply following your own system—but it’s far more valuable.
Because in a real situation, there’s no time to “figure things out” on the spot.
The Training Felt Closer to Real Operations Than Practice
What made this edition stand out was how it was structured.
Instead of isolated activities, the exercise built up gradually. It started with basic coordination – getting comfortable with communication, movement, and shared protocols. Then it moved into more complex tactical drills.
By the time the final 48-hour validation phase came in, it wasn’t just practice anymore. It felt like a full mission.
The objective during that phase was clear: simulate joint operations aimed at neutralising unlawful armed groups. That meant continuous movement, quick decision-making, and staying aligned even under pressure.
And that’s where the real learning happens – not in perfect conditions, but in extended, demanding scenarios.
Interoperability Sounds Technical – But It’s Actually Simple
You’ll often hear officials talk about “interoperability.” It sounds like a complicated term, but the idea behind it is straightforward.
Can two different forces operate together without slowing each other down?
That includes small things and big things at the same time:
- Understanding each other’s commands without confusion
- Reacting to situations in a similar way
- Trusting that the other side will follow through as expected
Dustlik is designed to improve exactly that.
And the only way to do it is through repetition – training together, making mistakes, correcting them, and improving each time.
Balanced Participation Made a Difference
This wasn’t a case of one country leading and the other following.
Both sides brought in similar-sized contingents – around 60 personnel each. On the Indian side, the group included soldiers from a battalion of the Mahar Regiment along with members of the Indian Air Force.
Uzbekistan matched that with its own Army and Air Force personnel.
That balance matters. It keeps the exercise collaborative instead of hierarchical.
The Terrain Added Its Own Challenges
The training took place in the Gurumsaray Field Training Area in Namangan, which offers a semi-mountainous landscape.
That kind of terrain changes everything.
Movement becomes slower. Communication gets harder. Planning needs to be tighter.
Training in such conditions forces both sides to think ahead and stay coordinated, especially during joint operations. It’s very different from controlled environments, and much closer to what real missions can look like.
This Partnership Has Been Built Over Time
Dustlik isn’t a one-off initiative.
It’s conducted every year, with India and Uzbekistan hosting it alternately. The previous edition was held in Pune in 2025, and each version builds on what the last one achieved.
That consistency is what makes the difference.
You don’t build coordination in a single exercise. You build it by coming back, refining, and improving.
Beyond Strategy, There’s Human Layer
Something else happens during these exercises, and it doesn’t always get mentioned in official statements.
People connect.
When soldiers train together over several days, they start understanding each other beyond ranks and roles. There’s a level of trust that develops naturally – through shared effort, shared fatigue, and shared goals.
And in real-world operations, that kind of trust can matter just as much as strategy.
Final Thought
Exercise Dustlik isn’t about big announcements or dramatic displays.
It’s about doing the quiet work that makes coordination possible when it’s actually needed.
For the Indian Army and Uzbekistan’s forces, this latest edition was another step forward – not just in training, but in building a working relationship that gets stronger with each interaction.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what matters most.