New Delhi [India]: Contrary to some reports appearing in a section of the press, the Russia-Pakistan anti-terror exercise is not being held and will not be held in any point of so-called “Azad Kashmir” or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan, said the Embassy of the Russian Federation in a statement issued here on Friday evening.
“The only venue of the exercise is Cherat, and all reports alleging that the drills taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous,” clarifies the Russian Government.
Meanwhile, in a first ever Pak-Russian joint exercise, Russian forces arrived in Pakistan on Friday to participate in a joint military exercise.
“A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for first ever Pak-Russian joint exercise for two weeks from September 24 to October 10,” tweeted Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt. Gen. Asim Bajwa.
The Express Tribune quoted Pakistan Ambassador to Moscow Qazi Khalilullah as saying this is the first time that military personnel from the two countries would be taking part in joint military drills, otherwise called ‘Friendship-2016’.
Khalilullah said this development reflected increased cooperation between the two countries and “indicates a desire on both sides to broaden defence and military-technical cooperation”.
The drill is being seen as a step to strengthen military-to-military cooperation and bilateral relationship, which had been marred by Cold War rivalry for decades.
A senior Pakistani official said around 200 military personnel from the two sides would take part in the joint military exercise. (ANI)