ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Chinese and Pakistani militaries have commenced a joint counterterrorism exercise in Pakistan’s northwest, the latest collaboration between the two nations as both confront heightened security challenges.
The opening ceremony for the Warrior-VIII drills took place on Wednesday at Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) in Pabbi, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
The three-week-long exercise is the eighth in an annual series of bilateral drills designed to enhance counterterrorism capabilities and strengthen military ties between the two countries.
New offensive in Balochistan
The exercises come as Pakistan announced a new military operation against separatist insurgents in southwestern Balochistan province, which is home to key Chinese Belt and Road Initiative projects. It was not immediately clear whether the planned offensive would involve Chinese collaboration.
Balochistan has seen a recent uptick in militant activity, threatening critical infrastructure projects, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Funeral for soldiers killed in militant attack
The announcement follows a deadly suicide attack in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed on Tuesday. Militants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of a military outpost, damaging nearby infrastructure.
Six attackers were killed during the assault, according to the ISPR. The Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, an Islamist militant organization, claimed responsibility for the attack.
On Wednesday, funeral prayers for the fallen soldiers were held in Bannu, attended by senior military and civilian officials, including the Peshawar corps commander.
Rising security challenges
Pakistan faces a dual threat: a resurgence of Islamist militancy in the northwest and an intensifying ethnic separatist insurgency in Balochistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday approved a military offensive targeting separatist groups in the southwest, underscoring the urgency of addressing the escalating violence.
Balochistan, which shares a border with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has been critical to Chinese infrastructure investments but has become a flashpoint for militant attacks, complicating regional stability and development efforts.
The joint exercises with China signal a deepening military partnership between the two countries amid these mounting security challenges.
