Pakistan’s and Russia’s special forces held the opening ceremony of their two-week mutual counter-terrorism exercise, the ‘Druzbha V,’ yesterday, as per reports from the ISPR.
The exercise is part of the growing mutual cooperation between the two countries in various sectors of government and business.
Opening ceremony of DRUZHBA – V held at Tarbela today. Pak-Russian Federation Special Forces are participating in two weeks long counter terrorism exercise. National anthems of both countries were played at the start of the ceremony. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/bgBKctv1zZ
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) November 8, 2020
In an update on Twitter, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the Druzhba V opening ceremony was held at Tarbela earlier today.
“Pak-Russian Federation Special Forces are participating in two weeks long counterterrorism exercise,” the statement added. “National anthems of both countries were played at the start of the ceremony.”
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The Tweet mentioned that the ceremony had been attended by the Russian ambassador to Pakistan, Danila Ganich, and senior officials from the armies of Pakistan and Russia had been present at the occasion.
Pakistan’s and Russia’s counter-terrorism exercises.Â
The Russian special forces had arrived in Pakistan on Thursday for the regularly held military exercises between the two countries since 2016. The first of which had been held in Astrakhan, Russia. The exercise called ‘Kavkaz’ was the first of annual exercises held by Pakistan and Russia: taking place in both countries.
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The ISPR said sky diving and hostage rescue operations would be the highlights of Druzhba V.
Growing Economic ties
A state-run Russian firm, Inter RAO Engineering, back in 2019, offered to invest $2 billion in Pakistan’s water and power sector projects, including Mohmand dam.
Inter RAO Engineering is one of the largest Russian public energy companies and it has joint ventures with European companies like Siemens in Russia.
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The Russian firm wants a deal on the government to government basis between Russia and Pakistan. This Russian firm is also building a dam in Afghanistan on the Kabul River.
Pakistan and Russia had already signed a governmental agreement to build the north-south LNG pipeline. The two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for an offshore gas pipeline project. Now, Russia’s state-run firm has offered investment in water and power projects in Pakistan.
GVS News Desk