Pakistan, China to kick off anti-terror exercises
PAKISTAN: Traditional allies, Pakistan and China will hold
joint military exercises this week aimed at helping the two countries
fight terrorism, the Pakistani military said on Sunday.
A contingent of China's People's Liberation Army arrived in Pakistani
garrison city of Rawalpindi, adjoining Islamabad, on Sunday to take part
in the exercises, named "Friendship - 2006".
The joint exercises - the first by Chinese troops outside their
country - come two weeks after a visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao to
Pakistan. The two armies held such exercises in China in 2004.
"The focus of exercises will be to mutually benefit from each others
experience in planning and conduct of anti-terrorist operations," the
military said in a statement.
"The ten-day long exercises are aimed at strengthening the existing
bonds of friendship between the armies of the two countries." China is
the main supplier of conventional arms to Pakistan and analysts believe
it has also supported Islamabad's missile and nuclear weapons programme.
During Hu's visit, the two countries signed a memorandum of
understanding for long-term collaboration in defence production
including development of an airborne early warning surveillance system.
Islamabad, Monday, Reuters |