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.
The 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.
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