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Pakistan will participate in SCO ‘Peace Mission 2018’ exercise
Speaking to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia Kazi Khalilullah stated that Pakistan will participate in the multi-lateral Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) exercise ‘Peace Mission 2018’ in September.
Khalilullah stated: “I understand that the exercise ‘Peace Mission-2018’ is being conducted under the auspices of the SCO, Pakistan attaches importance to SCO events, and we took part in the first round of expert talks related to the exercises, which were held in Yekaterinburg in November 2017. We intend to participate in the exercises this year.”
The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental organization concerning Central Asia and its surrounding regions aimed at cultivating multilateral cooperation in many areas, including trade, energy, education, tourism and others.. Pakistan and India are the latest entrants to the eight-member SCO, having officially joined the body as full-members in June 2017.
Peace Mission is a biennially-held counter-terrorism exercise involving each SCO member. In 2016, it was held in Kyrgyzstan. Its purpose is to examine the coordination and combat readiness of SCO members for joint counter-terrorism operations.
Pakistan and Russia held their first bilateral military exercise in 2016 in Pakistan. Designated ‘Friendship’, the exercise had drawn upon the respective special forces units of each country for exchanging insights and building capacity for counter-terrorism operations. This was followed by Friendship 2017 in Russia.
As per Khalilullah (via RIA Novosti), Pakistan’s Minister of Defence, Khurram Dastgir Khan, will also visit Moscow in April to participate in the Seventh Moscow Conference on International Security.
Pakistani officials, among them Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan and Pakistan Air Force Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, have also iterated on different occasions of engaging Russia for the supply of conventional armaments. Thus far, the only notable order to have come from the thaw in relations is four Mi-35M from Russian Helicopters in 2015.
9 Comments
by sami shahid
First deport Afghan refugees and then participate in this exercise
by Headstrong
An SCO exercise? Could we actually see Indian and Pakistani forces participating in the same exercise? Would that be a first?
by U
This is the first point that came to my mind also.
It would be very interesting and very good in my opinion if this happens!
I am thinking of soldiers talking to each other, probably for first time ever in a cooperative situation.
by Bilal Khan
Probably the first exercise, but not the first engagement, they’ve worked together before under the UN.
by Khalid Riaz
Both Pakistan and Indian Navies have been part of the multinational Combined Task Force (CFT-150) for countering piracy. I do not know if they were in it at the same time.
by Headstrong
The Indian Navy is not part of CTF 150 as it is not UN mandated. Never has been
by MOHAMMAD HARIS FAHIM
What are you trying to hint at?
by sami shahid
We can’t secure our country if we don’t deport these refugees. If we can’t secure our home then why don’t need to participate in this exercise
by Manju
Former Indian Army Chief Gen.Bikram Singh was the commanding officer of current Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Bajwa during their term at UN in early 2000 atCongo. Yes both the armies did work together at UN before.