India and Pakistan join SCO Counter-Terror Exercise Peace Mission 2018 In Russia

India-Pakistan For First-time To Participate Together In SCO Counter-Terror Exercise In Russia

India and Pakistan will be part of a multi-nation counter-terror exercise to be held in September-2018 in Russia. It will also be joined by China and many other SCO countries.

The Peace Mission-2018 is a multi-nation counter-terror military exercise which will take place under the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a China-dominated security grouping which is increasingly seen as a counterweight to NATO.

India participation at Peace Mission-2018 exercise was confirmed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the meeting of SCO Defence Ministers meeting held in Beijing, China in April 2018.

As per the officials, Indian soldiers have never actively participated in a multilateral exercise that included Pakistan in the past. However, the military of two countries has worked together in UN missions and operations.

Peace Mission-2018

Peace Mission counter-terror military exercise will be held in the Ural mountains of Russia and almost all SCO member countries are taking part in it. Its main aim is to enhance counter-terror cooperation among the eight SCO member countries.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

SCO is political and security grouping headquartered in Beijing. It was founded in 2001. The full members of the organisation are China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, India and Pakistan.

Four other nations have been accorded 'observer' status, while six others are 'dialogue' partners in the SCO.

India had joined SCO in June 2018.