Dharma Guardian 2026: India–Japan joint military exercise concludes in Uttarakhand

The seventh edition of the India–Japan joint military exercise Dharma Guardian 2026 concluded in Chaubatia, Uttarakhand, with the Indian Army reiterating its commitment to strengthening defence cooperation with Japan amid growing global concerns over terrorism.

The exercise wrapped up on Sunday, marking the end of several days of intensive joint training between the two armies. The bilateral drill primarily focused on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, aimed at enhancing coordination and interoperability between Indian and Japanese forces.

One of the key highlights of the exercise was a validation drill named “Asahi Shakti", a 48-hour field training operation designed to simulate real-world terrorist threat scenarios in the Chaubatia region.

The drill involved terrain analysis, the establishment of a Company Operating Base, intelligence gathering through patrols and ambushes, cordon-and-search operations, special heliborne missions, room intervention procedures, and hostage rescue exercises.

During the exercise, soldiers from both countries participated in intensive joint training, including urban warfare drills and combat exercises in mountainous and complex terrain. The programme also enabled the exchange of best practices while improving physical fitness, firing proficiency and fieldcraft skills.

Beyond the operational training, troops from both sides also took part in cultural interactions. Japanese soldiers joined their Indian counterparts in celebrating Holi, fostering camaraderie and strengthening people-to-people ties between the two forces.