Pak-Indian militaries to conduct first-ever drills together

MOSCOW: Pakistani and Indian forces, for the first time, will conduct drills together as both the countries have announced to participate in a multi-nation military exercise to be held in in Russia’s Ural Mountains in August this year.

The exercise , “Peace Mission 2018”,  a part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), will focus on counter-terrorism operations in which eight countries, including Pakistan, India, China, Russia will participate. 

Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has reportedly made an official  announcement that India will participate in a multi-nation military exercise. 

New Delhi also attended for  the first time the Defence Ministers’ meeting at SCO  was hosted in China.

In Past, Pakistan and  Indian soldiers have operated together  as peacekeepers under the United Nations. 

But this will be the  first-ever military exercise in which both the countries will  fight together in mock operations  against terrorists.

“Peace Mission 2018” will be the fifth edition of the multilateral exercise, held once in two years.

The SCO was formed in 2001 by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. 

Now the grouping has eight full members, including Pakistan, India and Uzbekistan. 

Another four nations have been accorded “observer” status, while six others are “dialogue” partners.