The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has joined Exercise PRAGATI 2026, a multinational military exercise currently underway in Meghalaya, India, alongside forces from 11 other friendly nations.
The opening ceremony of the two-week exercise was held on Friday at Umroi, Meghalaya, marking the official commencement of the joint training programme focused on enhancing interoperability, operational coordination and collective response capabilities among participating countries.
The exercise includes military contingents from Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
Addressing the participating forces during the opening ceremony, Major General Sunil Sheoran, Additional Director General Infantry of the Indian Army, stressed the importance of cohesion, interoperability and collective engagement in responding to evolving regional and global security challenges.
According to Indian military officials, Exercise PRAGATI 2026 will focus primarily on counter-terrorism operations conducted in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain. The programme includes joint planning exercises, tactical drills and coordinated field operations aimed at improving combat readiness and multinational cooperation.
A total of 32 personnel from the Maldives National Defence Force are participating in the exercise, including 30 soldiers and two officers.
The Maldivian contingent comprises personnel from the MNDF Special Forces, Special Operations Group, Special Boat Squadron and Marines.
The exercise is being conducted in Meghalaya, a northeastern Indian state known for its mountainous and dense jungle terrain, providing conditions suited for specialised counter-terrorism and jungle warfare training.
Military cooperation between the Maldives and India has continued through joint exercises, training exchanges and capacity-building programmes over the years. Maldivian security personnel have regularly participated in Indian-led military training initiatives aimed at strengthening operational preparedness, maritime security cooperation and regional defence engagement.
Exercise PRAGATI is also expected to provide participating countries an opportunity to exchange operational experience and strengthen defence ties through multilateral collaboration.
