Speech by Ambassador at Military University of Security and Defence  Tashkent  October 8, 2025

Maj General Farkhodjon Shermatov, First Deputy Head of University of Military Security and Defence, distinguished officials from the Ministry of Defence, faculty members, dear friends, Good afternoon.

It is indeed a great privilege to be here today at the Military Security and Defence University on the occasion of the formal handing over of three software solutions developed by the Indian Army Training Team in collaboration with this prestigious institution.

Today’s event is not merely a technical milestone; it is a celebration of partnership, innovation, and shared progress between India and Uzbekistan. Our cooperation with your esteemed institution has been robust and enduring. The deployment of the first Training Team in 2021, the establishment of the state-of-the-art IT & Cyber-Security Lab in April 2024 and subsequent deployment of the second Military Training team in August last year highlight our intent to build capacities, not just in terms of technology and equipment, but more importantly focusing on ‘human resource’. We are happy that exchanges between two sides have been steady and continued imparting momentum to our partnership.   We are expecting a visit by faculty and students of the Army War College, led by Commandant of the College, Lt Gen HS Sahi in November I will be proposing the signing of an MoU between your University and the Army War College as this would further expand institutional connect and present opportunities to both sides to benefit.

Technology will transform the way we defend our nations.  The future battlefield will be defined by speed, precision and intelligence.  AI will be key in providing situational awareness. It is heartening that Uzbekistan Ministry of Defence has undertaken steps towards digitisation of the military education and the recent institutionalisation of this University as an umbrella organisation encompassing five military institutes is in sync with this larger mission.

I also take this opportunity to commend the dedicated members of the Indian Army Training Team as well as the faculty of the University for their commitment, creativity, and professionalism as evident by the success of this project and I am sanguine that these software projects will not only enhance the capacities and technological edge of the students of this esteemed institution, but will also be of value in University’s broader aim of being a leading institution in technology and innovation in the area of military education.

Dear friends, defence cooperation is a major component of the bilateral cooperation between India and Uzbekistan.  Our nations have major stakes in regional security. Just few days back, the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism met and we agreed to further strengthen our cooperation in counter terrorism and radicalization.

I look forward to the continued and renewed cooperation between our two nations in the years to come and once again congratulate the University of Military Security and Defence and the Indian Army Training Team for their continued efforts towards strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Thank you.

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