Islamabad, (Newsman): Pakistan and China have launched their first joint counterterrorism military exercise in five years, according to a military statement released on Wednesday.
The exercise, named Warrior-VIII, began with an opening ceremony at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Pabbi, located in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Running through mid-December, Warrior-VIII is designed to enhance the counterterrorism capabilities of both nations’ armed forces through joint operations.
This three-week exercise marks the eighth iteration of an annual series of bilateral drills between the Pakistan Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China, the ISPR said.
The exercise aims to improve the professional skills of both militaries through combined training and to strengthen the long-standing military ties between the two countries, often referred to as “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 emphasized that the two forces would engage in multi-level training, including live combat drills simulating real-world scenarios. The initiative is part of broader efforts to deepen military cooperation and enhance both nations’ abilities to tackle terrorism.
The most recent joint exercise in this series took place in 2019.
