New Delhi: The seventh edition of the India-Japan joint military exercise Dharma Guardian 2026 concluded successfully in the rugged hills of Chaubattia, Uttarakhand, sending a clear signal of deepening defence ties amid evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
Held from February 24 to March 8, 2026, at the Foreign Training Node in Chaubattia, the annual bilateral drill brought together 120 personnel each from the Indian Army’s Ladakh Scouts and the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force’s (JGSDF) 32nd Infantry Regiment. The exercise focused on enhancing tactical interoperability, counter-terrorism capabilities, and joint operations in complex, high-altitude mountainous and semi-urban environments — terrain mirroring real-world border challenges.
Troops engaged in intensive training, including terrain analysis, patrol ambushes, establishment of company operating bases, close-quarter battle (CQB), house interventions, reflex shooting, martial arts, combat life-saving, heliborne operations, drone surveillance, hostage rescue, and room-to-room urban clearance tactics. The highlight was the 48-hour validation exercise named Asahi Shakti, which simulates a hypothetical counterterrorism operation against terrorists and tests coordination in cordon-and-search missions and precision manoeuvres.
The closing ceremony on March 8 marked the culmination of this intensive collaboration. A post from ADG PI – Indian Army on X stated, “The closing ceremony of Exercise Dharma Guardian 2026… was held today, marking the successful culmination of intensive joint training between the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force.”
Experts view the exercise as a strategic step to bolster mutual trust and operational synergy, particularly in response to growing assertiveness in the region, including along the India-China border in eastern Ladakh and concerns in the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait. Conducted alternately in both nations since 2018, Dharma Guardian continues to strengthen the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership for peace and stability.