The Pakistan and Russian armed forces have initiated the seventh bilateral counter-terrorism exercise, Joint Exercise Druzhba-VII, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Tuesday.
According to ISPR, the two-week exercise began on October 13 at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Pabbi, involving Light Commando Troops from the Pakistan Army and a Russian military contingent. The commandant of the National Counter Terrorism Centre attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest, marking the commencement of the exercise.
The joint exercise aims to enhance professional skills through collaborative training, while strengthening the longstanding military ties between Pakistan and Russia. “The participating troops anticipate gaining valuable insights from each other’s expertise and experience,” the ISPR statement noted.
On October 13, Pakistan and the United States navies also conducted a bilateral exercise in the Arabian Sea to improve interoperability and reinforce their commitment to regional maritime security. The Pakistan Navy’s media wing reported that the USS O’Kane visited Karachi and took part in the exercise with Pakistan Navy Ship Babur.
The media wing emphasized that the joint activities underscore the Pakistan Navy’s dedication to regional peace, stability, and maritime cooperation with international partners. These collaborations have been instrumental in combating terrorism, piracy, narcotics, and human trafficking in the region and beyond.