Russian troops with the Southern Military District have arrived in Pakistan for the first Druzhba-2016 (“Friendship-2016”) exercises in the country, the district’s press service said Friday.
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A senior Pakistani official said that around 200 military personnel from both sides would participate in the combined military exercises.
The two-week long exercises beginning on Saturday (September 24) will continue until 10th of next month.
Earlier, the Indian media made a false claim that Russian Federation has called off its joint military exercises with Pakistan in the wake of Uri attack.
Russian Federation is keen to improve ties with Pakistan as the latter looks to buy some advanced weapons.
The joint drill is seen as another step in growing military-to-military cooperation, indicating a steady growth in bilateral relationship between the two countries, whose ties had been marred by Cold War rivalry for decades, local media reports said. Russian Federation recently secured a deal for four Mi-35 Hind E attack helicopters from Pakistan.
After Uri attack, India attempted to create confusion regarding the exercise and announced that these were cancelled, however Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia Qazi Khalilullah rebuffed Indian propaganda and confirmed that the military exercise will take place as scheduled.
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India had urged Russian Federation to reconsider its decision to hold joint military drills with Pakistan.
