Military personnel will work out methods of fighting terrorists
The joint Russian-Pakistani tactical exercises Druzhba-2024 have started. This year they are being held at the Pakistan National Counter-Terrorism Center. They will work out the coherence of the actions of military personnel and units in the fight against terrorists in mountainous areas. Experts note that such exercises not only contribute to improving the professionalism of personnel, but also strengthen relations between the two countries.
The Center for Combating Terrorism "Pabbi"
The joint exercises "Friendship-2024" will be held from October 14 to 26 on the territory of the Pakistani national center for combating terrorism "Pabbi", which is located near the city of the same name. Military personnel of the motorized rifle unit of the Southern Military District from the Volgograd region are taking part in them. They were delivered to the venue by an Il-76 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported.
The Russian military department said that during the exercises, the military personnel of the two countries will work out cooperation in carrying out tasks to destroy illegal armed formations in mountainous areas, as well as conducting reconnaissance and search and reconnaissance ambush operations.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
The joint tactical exercises are aimed at strengthening and developing military cooperation between the two countries, the Russian Defense Ministry noted.
These exercises are important for us, as they allow us to establish a new type of relationship with the Pakistani army, military expert Vladislav Shurygin told Izvestia.
— For many decades we stood on different sides of the border and we had a fairly tough confrontation, — he noted. — Today we are starting a new stage of interaction. And such exercises are important as an act of trust in each other. Of course, the exchange of real experience is also important. Pakistanis have their own history of fighting terrorism — they encounter it quite often. If we recall the events in Afghanistan and post-Soviet Central Asia, we have also repeatedly rebuffed terrorists. This is a very important, correct and interesting story.
Pakistanis will be interested in the experience of a special military operation, the expert believes.
"We may share some tactical elements," he said. — But this question is for those who organize and conduct the exercises.
A special military operation does not cancel out all other military activities of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, said military expert Roman Shkurlatov.
"For Russia, the exercises with Pakistan are important," he said. — They are planned, and there are no prerequisites to cancel or postpone them. Do not forget that they do not involve such a large number of forces and means — they are of a local anti-terrorist nature. Russia has been actively building relations with Pakistan in recent years, including in the military sphere. Due to the rapidly changing global situation, the Global South, which includes Pakistan, is becoming one of the centers of power on the planet. For this reason, this country is an important international partner for us, including in the military—political aspect.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
The expert noted that Pakistan is a largely mountainous country, leading counter—terrorism operations in difficult terrain.
— Due to the turbulent events in the world, terrorism has now receded into the background, but this does not mean that it has disappeared, - Roman Shkurlatov said. — We need to be ready to repel terrorist threats.
The history of the Russian-Pakistani exercises "Friendship"
The Russian-Pakistani Druzhba exercises have been held in turn in each of the countries since 2016. In them, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation traditionally represent units of the Southern Military District.
This is not the first time they have been hosted by a military training ground near the Pakistani city of Pabbi. In particular, in 2020, 50 servicemen of the special forces of the Armed Forces of Pakistan and a special purpose company of the 49th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District practiced their actions here.
Their participants have repeatedly stressed that joint training contributes to improving the professional training of the personnel of the armies of the two countries.
Military-political relations between Russia and Pakistan have been actively developing since the 1990s. The first deliveries of Russian weapons to Islamabad were carried out in 1996-2004. Then Moscow sent about 70 Mi-17 helicopters. Shortly thereafter, arms sales to Pakistan halted and were resumed in 2014.
In 2017, Russia completed the delivery of four Mi-35 attack helicopters to Pakistan. In the same year, Islamabad received two Mi-171E transport helicopters.
Mi-35
Image source: Photo: TASS/Mikhail Tereshchenko
Since 2014, the leadership of the Ministry of Defense of Pakistan has been participating in the annual Moscow conferences on international security. There is a Russian-Pakistani Military Advisory Committee on Defense and Security Issues.
In the northern part of the Arabian Sea, the Russian-Pakistani exercises "Arabian Monsoon" were held to curb the activities of pirate and other criminal groups.
The partnership in the military field is planned to be strengthened. In July of this year, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Alexander Fomin and Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of Pakistan Sahir Shamshad Mirza met.
During the event, the parties discussed the state and prospects for the development of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation, including in the field of strengthening international and regional security. The Russian Defense Ministry also noted that the negotiations were another step in strengthening mutually beneficial relations between the two states.
Vladimir Matveev
Bogdan Stepovoy
