Come September, India and Pakistan will be part of a multi-nation counter-terror exercise in Russia under the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. This is the first time the two neighbouring countries will be coming together for counter terrorism exercise, even though soldiers of India and Pakistan work together under the umbrella of United Nations Peacekeeping Forces.

The military drill will be held in the Ural mountains of Russia and almost all SCO member countries — China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyztan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the new members India and Pakistan — will be part of it.

Sources said the main aim of the exercise, Peace Mission, will be to enhance counter-terror cooperation among the eight SCO member countries.

The officials said India’s participation at the exercise was confirmed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during a meeting of SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Beijing last week.

India feels that as an SCO member, it will be able to play a major role in addressing the threat of terrorism in the region.

It is also keen on deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence. India has been holding military exercise with China and Russia.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Monday, 30 April 2018 | PNS | New Delhi