Pakistan and Russia have launched a joint military exercise aimed at enhancing counterterrorism capabilities with a special focus on drone warfare, the Pakistani military announced on Friday. The exercise comes at a time when militants in Pakistan’s northwest have begun using commercially acquired quadcopter drones to drop explosives on security forces, a new and potentially dangerous trend in the region.
The Druzhba-VIII exercise, held from September 15 to September 27, includes senior Russian military officials and is hosted under the supervision of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). According to the ISPR, the drills are designed to refine counterterrorism procedures and techniques, with emphasis on drone warfare, urban combat, and countering improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
“The exercise was aimed at refining the drills, procedures and techniques involved in counterterrorism operations with focus on drone warfare, fighting in built-up areas and counter improvised explosive devices through joint training, besides harnessing the historic military-to-military relations among the friendly countries,” the ISPR statement said.
The joint exercise also comes shortly before India’s planned military drills, where the Indian armed forces are expected to test new drone and counter-drone systems in an effort to strengthen its air defenses, according to Reuters.