Bakloh | Himachal Pradesh
Bakloh, the quiet cantonment town tucked into the mid-Himalayas, is set to step into the global military spotlight as it hosts the 16th edition of Exercise Vajra Prahar 2026, a premier joint Special Forces engagement between the Indian Army and the United States Army.
Scheduled from February 23 to March 15, 2026, the high-intensity exercise will be conducted at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, reaffirming Himachal Pradesh’s long-held identity as both Veer Bhoomi—the land of soldiers—and Dev Bhoomi—the land of the gods.
The annual Vajra Prahar exercise is aimed at deepening India–US defence cooperation, enhancing interoperability between elite Special Forces units, and sharpening joint operational readiness. The focus this year will be on the exchange of advanced special operations tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs), honed through rigorous training in realistic combat scenarios.
Military officials said the exercise will place strong emphasis on counter-terror operations, precision strikes, intelligence-based missions and joint planning under simulated battlefield conditions. Operating shoulder to shoulder in the demanding Himalayan terrain, the two contingents are expected to strengthen mutual trust and operational synergy.
For Bakloh and the surrounding hills of Chamba district, the exercise carries symbolic weight. Once home to legendary regiments and generations of soldiers, the town’s selection as the venue underscores its continuing strategic relevance in India’s defence ecosystem.
Defence watchers see Vajra Prahar 2026 as more than a training drill. It is a statement of shared resolve between two of the world’s most capable militaries, reflecting growing strategic convergence in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
As elite commandos train against the backdrop of cedar forests and snow-lined ridges, the message from the hills of Himachal is clear:
Forging elite partnerships, strengthening shared resolve.
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