ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China are conducting a two-week joint counterterrorism exercise, the Pakistan Army said on Thursday, marking another expansion in military cooperation between the two strategic partners.
The drills, known as Warrior-IX, run from Nov. 28 to Dec. 14 at Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) in Pabbi, a major training hub for operations against militant networks that have carried out attacks across the country. Such exercises have become a recurring feature of Pakistan-China security ties, which span counterterrorism coordination, intelligence sharing, and defense technology partnerships.
Senior delegations attended the Distinguished Visitors Day on Thursday, including China’s ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, and Pakistan’s Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Syed Aamer Raza. Officials observed field drills and received briefings on the objectives and scope of the exercise.
“The exercise reflects strong defense collaboration between Pakistan and China and reaffirms the commitment of both Armed Forces to working together for peace and stability,” the Pakistan military said.
According to the army, dignitaries viewed a range of counterterrorism demonstrations and praised the participating troops for their professionalism and operational readiness. China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and Pakistan Army units regularly train together as both countries cite shared security threats, including attacks targeting Chinese nationals and projects inside Pakistan.
