https://arab.news/2tcea
- China is pushing to join Pakistani security efforts to protect its citizens, last month unveiled plan for joint counterterror exercises
- Warrior-VIII exercise between Pakistan Army and Peoples’ Liberation Army of China held from Nov. 19 to Dec. 11 in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army said on Wednesday it had held a joint war exercise with China from Nov. 19 to Dec. 11 amid a push for deeper security ties between Islamabad and Beijing.
Following a string of deadly attacks that targeted its citizens in recent months, China has pushed to join Pakistani security efforts to protect them, and last month unveiled a plan for joint counter-terrorism exercises in Pakistan.
The exercise, which both the sides called Warrior-VIII between the Pakistan Army and Peoples’ Liberation Army of China, was launched at a northwestern Pakistani counter-terrorism facility, a Pakistani army statement said last month, adding that the exercise was aimed at “refining professional skills through joint training, besides harnessing (our) historic military-to-military relations.”
In a statement released on Wednesday, Pakistan said the exercise concluded today, Wednesday.
“Pak-China Joint Exercise Warrior-VIII between Pakistan Army and Peoples Liberation Army of China was conducted from 19 November to 11 December 2024,” the army’s media wing said.
“Three weeks’ long Exercise in Counter Terrorism domain is 8th in the series of bilateral exercises being held annually.”
Attacks on Chinese nationals have put the bilateral relations between both states under increasing stress, with Chinese officials breaking from diplomatic norms in recent months and publicly calling on Islamabad to provide better security.
Media reports in recent weeks have also widely speculated that Beijing has said it will not continue with projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $65 billion investment in President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, unless Pakistan can guarantee security.