Russia: India-Pakistan to take part in first ever military drill after Independence

New Delhi: Ever since India and Pakistan parted ways after Independence, the two countries never took part in any joint military drill.

Marking it as a first-ever since the Independence, the two countries will participate in a multi-nation counter-terrorism military drill scheduled to be held in Russia in September.

China long will also be a part of this Military drill which is being held by Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Defence Minister Nirmala confirmed India’s participation in the military drill during her recent visit to China to attend the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting.

The SCO was formed in the year 2001 in Shanghai by the Presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, which had Russia voting for India while China backed Pakistan.

Since the summit was founded, the SCO has now expanded representing over 40 percent of humanity and nearly 20 percent of the global GDP.

Since the Dokhlam Standoff, tensions between China and India have been prevailing but with this drill, India-China will also resume their bilateral military exercise.

PM Modi’s two-day informal summit in China, where both the leaders encouraged their militaries to “enhance predictability” and “effectiveness” in managing border affairs.

Aiming to enhance counter-terror cooperation among eight SCO member countries, the military drill is also termed as Peace Mission. The drill will take place in Russia’s rural mountains.