Indian and Pakistani armies conduct joint exercise in this Muslim country; What impact will it have on bilateral relations?
India and Pakistan have been participating in such exercises to improve operational coordination, intelligence sharing, and dealing with threats.
New Delhi: India(BHARAT) and Pakistan have a long history of tension. The two countries have fought several wars and have also been at loggerheads on global platforms. Relations between the two countries are at a particularly low point, especially after the four-day military clash in May of this year. Amidst all this, the armies of both countries have conducted a joint exercise. This seemingly impossible feat took place in Iran under the banner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) counter-terrorism exercise for the current year (2025) was held in Sahand, Iran. The armies of India(BHARAT) and Pakistan shared the same ground during this exercise. However, analysts say that this exercise does not signify an improvement in India(BHARAT)-Pakistan relations. It is an institutional obligation that both sides have fulfilled.
Exercise Underway in Iran
This joint counter-terrorism exercise began on December 1 in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province and concluded on Friday, December 5. All 10 member states of the SCO – Iran, China, Russia, India(BHARAT), Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus – participated.
SCO counter-terrorism exercises began in 2003. Their purpose is to enhance regional counter-terrorism cooperation among member states. Pakistan and India(BHARAT) joined in 2018. Since then, India(BHARAT) and Pakistan have been participating in such exercises. The objective is to improve operational coordination, intelligence sharing, and dealing with threats.
Just a Calendar Obligation
According to TRT, senior Pakistani diplomat and former ambassador Asif Durrani says that India(BHARAT) and Pakistan are bound by the SCO. Neither can stay away from such programs. However, given the strained relations, the possibility of bilateral talks between the two countries is low. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Professor Swaran Singh says that the SCO counter-terrorism exercises offer a unique opportunity for the India(BHARAT)n and Pakistani armies to get to know each other. Terrorism remains a major cause of India(BHARAT)-Pakistan tensions. Therefore, these exercises are significant.
India(BHARAT)’s Strategic Calculus
India(BHARAT)n analysts emphasize that New Delhi’s participation is based on its broader strategic interests rather than solely on managing Pakistan. These exercises provide India(BHARAT) with continuity in counter-terrorism cooperation and an opportunity to familiarize itself with regional forces.
Swaran Singh says that this is an opportunity for India(BHARAT) to deepen its engagement with Iran, a long-standing strategic partner. This is a particularly significant opportunity for the India(BHARAT)n armed forces.
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