Shanghai Cooperation Organisation military drill would be held in the Ural mountains of Russia

[Hindustani78]

New Delhi, April 30, 2018 01:01 IST
Updated: April 30, 2018 01:01 IST

Counter-terror drill planned in Russia
In a first, Iran and Pakistan will be part of a multi-nation counter-terror exercise in Russia in September, which will also be joined by China and several other countries.

The military exercise will take place under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a China-dominated security grouping which is increasingly seen as a counterweight to NATO.

Officials said the military drill would be held in the Ural mountains of Russia, and almost all SCO member countries will be part of it.

Fight against terror

They said the main aim of the exercise, Peace Mission, will be to enhance counter-terror cooperation among the eight member countries.

The officials said Iran's participation in the exercise was confirmed during an SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Beijing last week.

It will be for the first time since Independence that Iran and Pakistan will be part of a military exercise, though the armies of the two nations have worked together in U.N. peacekeeping missions, they said.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the Presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Iran and Pakistan were admitted as observers of the grouping in 2005. Both the countries were admitted as full members of the bloc last year.

Iran’s membership was strongly pushed by Russia, while Pakistan’s entry into the grouping was backed by China. With expansion of the grouping, SCO now represents over 40% of humanity and nearly 20% of the global GDP.

Iran feels that as an SCO member, it will be able to play a major role in addressing the threat of terrorism in the region. It is also keen on deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence.

Iran has been holding military exercise with China. The two countries are likely to resume their bilateral military exercise in September.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
24-August, 2018 13:28 IST
Opening Ceremony Exercise SCO Peace Mission 2018

Exercise Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Peace Mission 2018, the latest in 'Peace Mission' series formally started on 24 August 2018 at Chebarkul, Russia. The opening ceremony was conducted in Chebarkul, Russia with military contingents of the all eight SCO member nations participating in this exercise. The contingents were addressed by Lieutenant General Alexander Pavlovich Lapin, Chief Commander Central Military District, Russia. The formal parade by military contingents was performed at the camp location of Combined Arms Range in Chebarkul, Russia.

The exercise will provide an opportunity to the armed forces of SCO nations to train in counter terrorism operations in urban scenario in a multinational and joint environment. The scope of the exercise includes professional interaction, mutual understanding of drills & procedures, establishment of joint command and control structures and elimination of terrorist threat in urban counter terrorist scenario.

The Russian Army has the major participation of 1700 personnel followed by China with 700 & India with 200 personnel. The SCO Peace Mission Exercise is one of the major defense cooperation initiatives amongst SCO nations and will be a landmark event in the history of SCO defence cooperation.


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