The 14-day exercise focuses on joint training, operational coordination and strengthening military-to-military cooperation…reports Asian Lite News Desk
India and Myanmar have reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace, stability and security in the region as the fifth edition of their bilateral army exercise, IMBAX, began in Meghalaya on Tuesday.
The 14-day exercise is being conducted from September 15 to 28 at the Joint Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya, the Indian Army said.
“The 5th edition of the India–Myanmar Bilateral Army Exercise IMBAX commenced today at the Joint Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya. The 14-day exercise is being conducted from 15 to 28 September 2026,” the Additional Directorate General of Public Information of the Indian Army said in a post on X.
The exercise is focused on enhancing interoperability and operational coordination between the two armies, particularly for operations conducted under a United Nations mandate.
According to the Indian Army, the joint training will provide personnel from both sides with an opportunity to exchange operational experiences and best practices. It is also intended to strengthen mutual understanding, camaraderie and military-to-military cooperation.
The participating Myanmar contingent will also have an opportunity to observe a range of indigenous weapons and equipment being used by the Indian Army.
The exercise is being conducted in line with the Indian Army’s vision of “JAI se VIJAY”, while also providing a platform for the two countries to strengthen their defence engagement.
“The exercise reaffirms the commitment of both nations towards promoting peace, stability and security in the region,” the Indian Army said.
The military exercise comes amid continued diplomatic engagement between India and Myanmar.
Last week, Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita met a visiting Myanmar parliamentary delegation in New Delhi. The delegation was led by Pwint San, Chairman of the International Relations Committee of the Myanmar Parliament.
Discussions during the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations and advancing cooperation between the two countries.
Margherita reaffirmed India’s commitment to developing its multifaceted partnership with Myanmar, guided by New Delhi’s foreign policy priorities of Neighbourhood First, Act East and MAHASAGAR, or Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
The Myanmar delegation was in India for capacity-building training at the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), the training and research wing of the Lok Sabha Secretariat.
Following the meeting, Margherita said on X that India remained committed to deepening its partnership with Myanmar while building on the countries’ longstanding civilisational and people-to-people links.
“Glad to interact with the Myanmar Parliament delegation led by Dr. Pwint San, Chairman of International Relations Committee, during their visit to India for capacity building training at PRIDE. Building on our age-old civilisational and people-to-people ties, India remains committed to deepening our multifaceted partnership with Myanmar under our key foreign policy priorities – Neighbourhood First, Act East and MAHASAGAR,” he posted.
The IMBAX exercise adds a defence dimension to the broader engagement between India and Myanmar, with the two sides continuing to pursue cooperation through military, diplomatic and institutional channels.
