ISLAMABAD, (TDI): Pakistan and China have launched their first joint counterterrorism military exercise in five years, as announced in a military statement on Wednesday.
The exercise, named Warrior-VIII, commenced with an opening ceremony at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Pabbi, located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province’s northwest region.
The Warrior-VIII exercise, which will run until mid-December, aims to strengthen the capabilities of both nations’ armed forces in conducting joint counterterrorism operations.
This three-week-long drill is the eighth in a series of annual bilateral exercises between the Pakistan Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China, said ISPR.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F55w957c3-YThe exercise is designed to enhance professional skills through combined training, while also reinforcing the long-standing military relationship between the two nations, often referred to as the “Iron-Clad Brothers.”
Lieutenant General Shahid Imtiaz, Commander of the Rawalpindi Corps, attended the opening ceremony as the Chief Guest.
According to a report by Anadolu Agency, the Chinese Ministry of Defence highlighted that the two militaries would participate in multi-level training across a variety of specialties, including live combat drills simulating real-world scenarios. This initiative is part of a broader effort to bolster military cooperation and improve both nations’ ability to combat terrorism.
The most recent joint exercise in this series took place in 2019.
