Even as tension prevails between India and Pakistan after abrogation of Article 370 giving special status to Jammu & Kashmir, the armies of two countries will take part in a multilateral exercise in Russia under the aegis of Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO). The ten-day event will commence on September 10 in Orenburg.
A 140-strong team of Indian troops will take part in the exercise focused on countering international terrorism and providing military security in Central Asian region, officials said here on Wednesday. The final planning conference for the exercise will take place in Orenburg for two days commencing August 20 they added. Last year too, India had taken part in the exercise along with Pakistan and other nations in Russia.
Besides the SCO members including China and Pakistan besides others, invitation was also extended to Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Iran and Belarus for this year'sexercise, they said. India and Pakistan had joined the SCO in 2017.
The SCO is an intergovernmental organisation set up in 2001. Its main goals include promoting member-states' cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology and culture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas.