Islamabad: Russia and Pakistan, two Cold War enemies when the former existed as the USSR, came together on Friday for their first-ever joint military exercise called 'Friendship 2016' in a development that will be watched keenly in both Delhi and Washington DC.
A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for the first Pak-Russian joint exercise scheduled from September 24 to October 10," said Lt General Asim Saleem Bajwa of the Pakistani army media wing.
While India said it would observe the developments closely, a late-night release from the Russian embassy in Delhi stated: " Russia-Pak anti-terror exercise is not being held in so-called Azad Kashmir or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit-Baltistan. The only venue is Cherat. Reports alleging drills taking place at the military school in Rattu are mischievous."
The Russian defence ministry said the exercise was aimed at strengthening and developing military cooperation with Pakistan aimed at, among other things, "eliminating illegal armed groups", the Russian defence ministry said in a statement. The joint drill, even if it's not taking place in POK, isn't great news for India, especially when it's seeking to isolate Pakistan internationally for the Uri attack in which 18 Indian soldiers were killed by Pakistan-based terrorists.
A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for the first Pak-Russian joint exercise scheduled from September 24 to October 10," said Lt General Asim Saleem Bajwa of the Pakistani army media wing.
While India said it would observe the developments closely, a late-night release from the Russian embassy in Delhi stated: " Russia-Pak anti-terror exercise is not being held in so-called Azad Kashmir or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit-Baltistan. The only venue is Cherat. Reports alleging drills taking place at the military school in Rattu are mischievous."
The Russian defence ministry said the exercise was aimed at strengthening and developing military cooperation with Pakistan aimed at, among other things, "eliminating illegal armed groups", the Russian defence ministry said in a statement. The joint drill, even if it's not taking place in POK, isn't great news for India, especially when it's seeking to isolate Pakistan internationally for the Uri attack in which 18 Indian soldiers were killed by Pakistan-based terrorists.