BAKLOH, India-Troops from the United States Army have arrived in northern India to participate in a joint special forces exercise with the Indian Army. The exercise, VAJRA PRAHAR, is aimed at improving interoperability and strengthening defense ties between the two countries.
VAJRA PRAHAR began Monday at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, in the Northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, and is scheduled to run through March 16, according to Indian military officials.
The Indian contingent includes 45 personnel from its special forces units, while the United States has sent 12 soldiers from its elite Green Berets.
Military officials said the exercise is meant to improve cooperation between the armed forces of India and the United States, especially in planning and executing special operations in mountainous terrain. The training includes physical conditioning, joint mission planning, and combat exercises to replicate real-world operational scenarios.
Participating troops will also exchange operational knowledge and share best practices in special operations tactics, techniques, and procedures, officials said.
The joint drills are part of an ongoing series of military exchanges between the two countries. The previous edition of the exercise was held in November 2024 at the Orchard Combat Training Centre in Idaho, U.S.
