Moscow. September 25. INTERFAX - A joint Russian-Pakistani military exercise with the development of counter-terrorism tasks is starting in the Krasnodar Territory.
"From September 25 to October 6, 2021, a joint exercise" Friendship-2021 "will be held at the Molkino training ground in the Krasnodar Territory. More than 160 military personnel from special purpose units of the 49th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District and the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan are involved in the international exercise," the Russian Defense Ministry said earlier.
According to the ministry, on September 25, after the opening ceremony, the first stage of the exercise will begin, "within the framework of which the coordination of units will be carried out, tasks on counter-terrorism tactics will be worked out, fire training classes will be held."
The joint Russian-Pakistani military exercise "Druzhba" has been held since 2016 both on the territory of the Russian Federation and Pakistan. The event will be held for the second time at the Molkino training ground in the Krasnodar Territory.
On the eve of the meeting in Moscow, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Valery Gerasimov, met with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of Pakistan, Nadim Raza, during which a thorough exchange of views on the situation in Afghanistan took place.
"Pakistan is one of the few countries with which military cooperation is very active this year, despite the difficult epidemic situation," Gerasimov said.
During the conversation between the heads of the General Staffs of the Russian Federation and Pakistan, Gerasimov expressed gratitude for the traditionally high representation of Pakistan in the events of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in 2021.
He thanked his Pakistani counterpart for his personal participation in the active phase of the military anti-terrorist command and staff exercises of the SCO member states "Peace Mission - 2021" and the dispatch of the national military contingent.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation also noted the successful cooperation with Pakistan in the naval field - ships of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation participated in the exercises "Aman-2021", "Arabian Monsoon - 2021" and maneuvers to counter piracy in the Gulf of Aden. The frigate of the Pakistani Navy "Zulfikar" participated in the Main Naval Parade in St. Petersburg.
Pakistan is counting on the development of military-technical cooperation (MTC) with Russia, is interested in airplanes and helicopters, Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on foreign Affairs, told Interfax in February 2017.
In October 2017, an intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Pakistan was published on the legal information portal, which provides for the supply of weapons, military equipment, repair and modernization of military products. According to the agreement, the parties can also cooperate in the development of new types of weapons and provide consulting services.
In 2015, the head of Rostec, Sergey Chemezov, announced plans to supply Russian Mi-35 attack helicopters to Pakistan. According to media reports, in 2017 the contract was executed, four cars were delivered to the customer.
