CHERAT — Pakistani and Russian special forces wrapped up ninth edition of their joint “Druzhba” military exercises in Cherat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with strong display of coordinated counterterrorism operations in rugged terrain and putting modern battlefield technologies, including drones, through practical demonstrations.
The closing ceremony brought together senior military commanders and officials from both countries, with Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Albert P. Khorev attending the event. The exercises brought Russian personnel from the 201st Military Base of the Central Military District, stationed in Tajikistan, together with personnel from Pakistan’s Special Forces.
The two-week Druzhba-IX exercise started in late September, with the stated objective of improving counterterrorism capabilities, exchanging operational experience and enhancing interoperability between the two forces.
During the concluding phase, the participating troops demonstrated integrated counterterrorism operations under challenging terrain conditions. The drills also featured advanced weapons and technologies, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs/drones), highlighting the growing role of technology in modern tactical operations.
Russian contingent was led by Colonel Oleg Stetsyuk, Deputy Chief of Staff of Russia’s Central Military District, while Pakistan’s senior military leadership included Lieutenant General Muhammad Amir Najam, Inspector General Training and Evaluation; Major General Ahmed Jawad, Commander Special Operations Forces; and Brigadier General Muhammad Imran Aslam, Commander of the Pakistan Army’s 22nd Special Forces Brigade.
Addressing participants after the tactical demonstrations on October 1, Ambassador Khorev congratulated the troops on successfully completing the exercises.
Khorev highlighted what he described as a high level of coordination and cohesion between the Russian and Pakistani military units, saying the drills provided a valuable platform for the two sides to exchange operational experience and military traditions.
Russian envoy also underscored the broader significance of the exercises, saying such joint military activities contribute to the further strengthening of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Russia. The conclusion of Druzhba-IX comes as Pakistan and Russia continue to expand practical military engagement through joint training and counterterrorism exercises.
The latest drills focused not only on combat skills but also on interoperability, tactical expertise and the exchange of best practices, reinforcing military-to-military contacts between the two countries.
With Russian troops deployed from the 201st Military Base in Tajikistan and Pakistani Special Forces operating together in the demanding terrain of Cherat, the ninth edition of Druzhba has provided another high-profile demonstration of the two countries’ growing defence cooperation.
The exercise concluded with both sides stressing operational coordination, experience-sharing and continued military engagement.
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