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The 'Dharma Guardian' joint military exercise between the Indian Army and Japan Ground Self-Defence Force began on February 24, 2026, at Chaubattia, Uttarakhand, and will run until March 9. Each nation has deployed 120 personnel, with Japan represented by the 32nd Infantry Regiment and India by the Ladakh Scouts.

The exercise aims to enhance military collaboration in semi-urban operations, focusing on establishing Temporary Operating Bases, developing ISR grids, and conducting Heliborne and House Intervention Drills. The drills will incorporate modern technologies, preparing forces for hybrid threats in Indo-Pacific contexts.