New Delhi: The tenth edition of Garuda Shakti, the India–Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise, has begun at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh. The exercise is scheduled from 3 to 12 December 2025. It brings together elite contingents from both nations to advance cooperation and strengthen tactical understanding.
Indian troops from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) are participating with personnel from the Indonesian Special Forces. Their joint training aims to improve coordination and refine operational practices. It also seeks to reinforce interoperability across mission profiles relevant to modern conflict.
Garuda Shakti focuses on tactical drills and joint counter-terror operations
The exercise includes unarmed combat instruction, combat shooting, sniping and heliborne operations. It also covers planning for drone, counter-UAS and loiter-munition strikes. Since it is being conducted in semi-mountainous terrain, the training emphasises troop-level tactics suited for high-intensity environments. Participants further exchange knowledge on weapons, equipment and procedures to broaden shared expertise.
The programme is built around physical conditioning and realistic battlefield drills. It will conclude with a validation exercise that simulates operational scenarios. This stage aims to assess endurance, coordination and combat readiness under demanding conditions.
Overall, the exercise deepens cooperation and expands tactical familiarity. It serves as an important step in strengthening defence ties and advancing the longstanding partnership between India and Indonesia.
