China’s Ministry of Defense announced that the Chinese and Pakistani armies will hold their first joint army training exercise in Korla, Xinjiang, in the second half of October. Ministry spokesperson Chen Xi said the drill, called “Karakoram-2026,” will focus on joint counterterrorism clearing operations in high-altitude terrain. It will include drone operations, moving-target shooting, long-range sniper training, and joint command and live-troop exercises. Chen said it would deepen exchanges and strengthen both sides’ ability to counter terrorist threats.
Hong Kong’s Ming Pao reported that militant groups in Pakistan have repeatedly targeted Chinese firms and projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, causing casualties among Chinese personnel and damaging facilities under construction. Beijing has repeatedly demanded severe punishment for those responsible. In March 2024, five Chinese engineers were killed in an attack in northwestern Pakistan, and in October of that year, an explosion at a Chinese-invested project killed two Chinese citizens.
The two countries have previously held “Warrior” counterterrorism exercises, but these mostly involved special forces or border units. Commentators cited in the report said the new drill marks an expansion of cooperation from special-operations units to regular army formations.
Chinese military expert Song Zhongping, quoted by Ming Pao, said joint action against cross-border terrorist groups has long been a shared training need. He argued that because the exercise is being held on the People’s Liberation Army’s home ground and involves a range of counterterrorism equipment, including drones, it intensifies the training. He said China has accumulated extensive counterterrorism experience in Xinjiang, and Pakistan should learn from it and acquire new equipment. Song added that the exercise is larger and more targeted than past cooperation, and that the Korla location can simulate plateau conditions. He did not rule out joint or cross-border counterterrorism operations between the two countries in the future.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), October 11, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202610110143.aspx