Speech by Ambassador Y. K. Sailas Thangal at Exercise KAZIND 2026

(Ust-Kamenogorsk, 09 October 2026)

Commanding Officers of the two units,

Dear Officers and Personnel of the Armed Forces of India and Kazakhstan,

It is a great honour and pleasure to be here with you at Exercise KAZIND 2026, which has become an important symbol of the growing defence partnership and strategic trust between India and Kazakhstan.

Exercises such as KAZIND are much more than joint military training. They provide an opportunity to build interoperability, exchange operational experience, develop mutual trust & understanding as well as strengthen the bonds of friendship and camaraderie between our armed forces. The challenging training undertaken during this exercise reflects the highest standards of discipline, courage and team work. I am confident that the knowlegde and experience gained from here will contribute meaningfully to the professional development of every participants and strengthen our ability to work together in addressing shared security challenges.

In the rapidly changing security environment of today, it is important that this kind of exercises continue to evolve and become increasingly comprehensive and full-fledged, covering all spheres of modern warfare. While land forces remain a backbone of any armed forces, future exercises could progressively involve the Air Force and Navy, as joint tri-service elements, wherever appropriate.

Modern warfare is also changing rapidly. Alongside conventional capabilities, our forces need to remain prepared for emerging domains such as cyber warfare, drones and counter-drone operations, electronic warfare, space-based capabilities, information warfare and other new technologies. Sharing experience and best practices in these areas can significantly enhance our preparedness and resilience.

The objective should be to ensure that our armed forces are prepared to respond effectively to the full spectrum of present and future security challenges, while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and respect for international law.

India and Kazakhstan share a commitment to peace, stability, security and development in our region. I am confident that KAZIND will continue to grow in scope and ambition, further strengthening the capabilities of both our armed forces and, equally importantly, the trust and friendship between our two countries.

I commend the commanders, instructors of both contingents for their commitment and enthusiasm. I congratulate all the participants for their dedication and professionalism and wish you a highly successful, productive career ahead.

Jai Hind!

Long live India–Kazakhstan friendship!

*****