Terror combat drills, drone warfare, and heliborne raids: Inside India-Uzbekistan’s DUSTLIK-VI war games in Pune

India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise DUSTLIK-VI Begins in Pune, Showcasing Counterterrorism and Drone Warfare Tactics

The sixth edition of the joint military exercise between India and Uzbekistan, codenamed DUSTLIK-VI, officially began on April 16, 2025, at the Foreign Training Node in Aundh, Pune. Scheduled to run through April 28, the exercise reflects the expanding defence partnership between the two nations, rooted in shared security interests and an evolving focus on sub-conventional warfare.

As regional security threats continue to evolve, the 2025 edition of Exercise DUSTLIK places emphasis on joint multi-domain sub-conventional operations in semi-urban scenarios, a simulated environment resembling counterterrorism challenges seen in real-world conflicts.

What is the objective of Exercise DUSTLIK-VI?

This year’s edition of DUSTLIK has been designed around interoperability in urban warfare conditions, particularly counterterrorism efforts involving territory capture and control. According to the Indian Ministry of Defence, the aim is to familiarise both forces with coordinated tactical responses to asymmetric warfare, including the establishment of a battalion-level Joint Operations Centre and execution of missions such as population control, raids, and search-and-destroy actions.

With India represented by a 60-member contingent from the JAT Regiment and the Indian Air Force, and Uzbekistan fielding its national army troops, the engagement is set to deepen bilateral understanding of tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) relevant to modern security operations.

The previous edition, DUSTLIK-V, was conducted in April 2024 in the Termez District of Uzbekistan, and the event alternates between the two nations annually.

How does the joint exercise reflect evolving military cooperation?

India and Uzbekistan have progressively enhanced their military and security ties in the past decade, particularly through frameworks such as this recurring bilateral drill. Defence experts point out that joint exercises like DUSTLIK serve both symbolic and strategic purposes. They act as a demonstration of diplomatic goodwill while providing a real-world training platform for troops to develop interoperable responses to modern asymmetric threats.

India’s growing defence diplomacy across Central Asia, including increasing engagement with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, reflects New Delhi’s broader regional strategy—one that aligns with both counterterrorism imperatives and connectivity initiatives such as the International North-South Transport Corridor.

What are the operational highlights of DUSTLIK-VI?

The 2025 iteration of the exercise introduces a series of real-time, scenario-based combat simulations. One key focus area is securing and defending territory in urban settings captured by hostile non-state actors. For this, a Joint Operations Centre (JOC) will be activated to enable continuous coordination between the Indian and Uzbek forces at the battalion level.

The participating contingents will jointly conduct special operations missions, including securing landing zones for Special Heliborne Operations (SHBO), and Small Team Insertion and Extraction (STIE). These simulated drills mirror real-world operations in conflict zones where helicopter-based mobility and stealth tactics are critical.

Advanced military technologies also feature heavily in the exercise. The Indian Air Force is expected to demonstrate reconnaissance and observation missions using rotary-wing platforms. Drone deployment and counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) strategies will be integrated into the exercises to neutralise aerial threats, reflecting the rising importance of drone warfare in conflict theatres from Ukraine to West Asia.

Additionally, logistics and resupply challenges in contested environments will be addressed, with the Air Force simulating sustainment operations in hostile zones. The exercise intends to prepare troops for not only combat effectiveness but also resilience in prolonged engagements without fixed supply lines.

How does this enhance strategic defence alignment?

Beyond tactical operations, DUSTLIK-VI is a diplomatic tool reinforcing strategic trust between India and Uzbekistan. Both countries view terrorism and extremism as common threats, especially amid instability in the wider Central Asian region following the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan.

By engaging in high-intensity joint drills, India is demonstrating its capability to serve as a regional security provider, while Uzbekistan is gaining access to operational frameworks and training modules aligned with international best practices.

This mutual training engagement also complements India’s broader outreach in the region through the India-Central Asia Dialogue, which includes high-level security discussions and technical cooperation in areas like border control, intelligence sharing, and cyber defence.

What are the geopolitical implications of the India-Uzbekistan exercise?

The DUSTLIK series, now in its sixth edition, comes at a time when geopolitical competition is intensifying across Central and South Asia. As China extends its Belt and Road footprint and Russia recalibrates its regional influence, India is asserting itself as a reliable defence partner offering capacity-building without strings.

Uzbekistan, a country pursuing a multi-vector foreign policy, benefits from maintaining strong military ties with India, balancing its engagements with Russia, China, and the West. For India, these exercises are not just about counterterrorism preparedness—they represent a projection of soft military power, aligning with its Act East and Connect Central Asia policies.

In terms of broader military diplomacy, India has also held similar exercises with Kazakhstan (KAZIND), Kyrgyzstan (KHANJAR), and Mongolia, indicating that joint drills like DUSTLIK-VI are part of a strategic architecture to foster multilateral defence cooperation across the Eurasian landscape.

How is DUSTLIK-VI expected to evolve in future editions?

Given the changing nature of warfare—with drones, AI, hybrid threats, and cyber warfare emerging as decisive domains—future editions of Exercise DUSTLIK are likely to integrate cyber-electromagnetic activities (CEMA), artificial intelligence in battlefield decision-making, and multi-domain operational planning.

Already, the inclusion of drones and counter-UAS systems reflects a shift in emphasis from traditional field drills to complex, technology-integrated manoeuvres. Defence analysts expect that DUSTLIK will increasingly resemble modular joint force exercises, akin to those seen in NATO partnerships, but adapted to Indian and Central Asian operational doctrines.

As India continues to modernise its armed forces and build strategic linkages through military-to-military engagements, DUSTLIK is set to become a cornerstone of its regional defence posture.