Pakistan, Russia conduct joint military exercises

Over 70 servicemen of Russian Armed Forces arrived in Pakistan to participate in Pak-Russia Joint Training Exercise ‘Druzhba-III’. (Photo courtesy: ISPR)

This is the third Pak-Russia joint training exercises as part of growing strategic ties between the two countries. (Photo courtesy: ISPR)

Troops from the two countries will exchange experience in combat training missions in highlands as well as in fighting against illegal armed gangs, says Defense Ministry. (Photo courtesy: ISPR)

The joint exercises between the two countries are aimed at strengthening and developing bilateral military cooperation. (Photo courtesy: ISPR)

• Have been taking part in “friendship” drills since 2016
• Activities aimed at strengthening and developing bilateral military cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia’s troops began their joint military exercises in the northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, Pakistan military’s media wing, the ISPR, said in a statement on Monday.
Termed the ‘Druzhba-III’, the drill this year is one of several conducted by both the countries since 2016 and marks the third edition of the annually-held “friendship” exercise, the statement added. 
Expected to continue till November 4, the drill is being held at a training range in the Pabbi town of the KP province. “Troops from the two countries will exchange experience in combat training missions in highlands as well as in fighting against illegal armed gangs,” a statement by the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) stated before the drills commenced. 
“The drills will be held at the Pakistani training center for special forces in Cherat at an altitude of 1,400 meters as well as at the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) in Pabbi,” the statement added. 
More than 70 servicemen of the Russian armed forces are participating in the exercise, the ministry confirmed, adding that the joint exercises are aimed at strengthening and developing bilateral military cooperation.
Pakistan and Russia have been deepening their military cooperation over the past few years. In 2014, Russia lifted a longstanding arms embargo imposed on Pakistan, while in August 2015, it agreed to sell four Mi-35M attack helicopters to Pakistan.
“Pakistan and Russia are entering a new phase of security cooperation from bilateral cooperation to multilateral cooperation,” Qamar Cheema, a strategic and political analyst, told Arab News.
He added that another reason for the military exercises was “to deal with the threat of the Islamic State (Daesh) in this region as Russia seeks to lead the war against Daesh in central and south Asia”.
“The joint exercise confirms that Indo-Russia defense deals will not undermine Islamabad-Moscow’s strategic cooperation,” Zafar Jaspal, professor at the school of politics and international relations at Quaid-e-Azam University, said.
“Working together to combat the menace of terrorism is indeed a positive sign,” he told Arab News.