ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) exercises, which are taking place in Haryana, India, from October 8 to 13.
Islamabad will also attend the SCO RATS council meeting in Delhi on October 14.
Unlike in the recent past, when relations were strained, Pakistani officials will make numerous visits to India to attend various events after the SCO was relocated to India until 2023. India took over the SCO presidency from Uzbekistan, which hosted the most recent SCO summit.
The Shanghai Convention on Countering Terrorism, Separatism, and Extremism, the SCO Charter, the SCO Member States’ Agreement on the RATS, and other documents and decisions established within the SCO framework all govern how RATS operates.
Asim Ali, director general of the ministry of foreign affairs, will attend at least three of the SCO events being held in India in October.
A seven-person delegation will be led by Rai Muhammad Tahir, National Coordinator for the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta).
The multinational counterterrorism drills will be held in India, the Foreign Office official had already announced.
The official said, “Yes, there will be exercises under the scope of SCO RATS in Manesar in October, and Pakistan as a member country will participate.
The regional organisation, which also consists of China, Russia, and Central Asian Republics, comprises Pakistan and India (CARs). While Pakistani and Indian military contingents have previously participated in counterterrorism training exercises, this will be the first time Pakistan will go to India to participate in such exercises.
India had previously sent observers to a RATS exercise that was taking place in Pakistan.
Pavan Manzoor is an experienced content writer , editor and social media handler along with a track record of youth-oriented activities in Pakistan and abroad. She was selected as a fully-funded delegate as a leadership fellow in Turkey. She also led a team of 5 volunteers at the week-long Young Professionals Fellowship in Maldives. She is also a member of the Youth Standing Committee on Higher Education.
