China, Pakistan hold high-altitude army drills with Beijing-supplied arms

In a landmark move, China and Pakistan have kicked off their inaugural joint military exercise, dubbed Karakoram 2026, in the high-altitude region of Xinjiang.

China and Pakistan launched their first joint army exercise in a high-altitude region of China’s Xinjiang, with all weapons and military equipment used in the drills supplied by Beijing, Chinese state media reported on Thursday.The exercise, named Karakoram 2026, began with an opening ceremony at a training base in Korla, in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region of northwestern China. The two countries have held annual joint air force and naval exercises, but this marks their first joint army training exercise, according to Chinese military officials.State-run CCTV reported that the drills involve several categories of Chinese military equipment, including Type 191 rifles, Type 201 squad machine guns, Type 11 armoured assault vehicles and Type 08 infantry fighting vehicles. Artillery systems, unmanned platforms and anti-drone systems have also been deployed.China is Pakistan’s largest arms supplier, providing more than 80 per cent of the weapons supplied to the country’s three armed services, according to the report.

High-altitude drills highlight growing military cooperation

The deployment of Chinese equipment for high-altitude operations has drawn attention given China’s military experience in the himalayan border region with India, according to the news agency PTI.Military affairs expert Wang Yunfei told the state-run Global Times that the use of medium-weight wheeled armoured vehicles in mountainous terrain reflected the operational considerations behind the exercise.According to Wang, wheeled armoured vehicles offer certain advantages over tracked platforms in high-altitude environments. They can move faster, particularly on roads, and are generally easier to maintain, making them suitable for transportation and combat missions across plateau terrain.He also noted that the use of Chinese equipment across multiple categories provided the participating forces with a relatively comprehensive combat system.The exercise demonstrates China’s role in supplying military technology and equipment to Pakistan, Wang said. It could also help Islamabad assess the equipment for potential future purchases, further increasing the presence of Chinese-made systems in the Pakistan army.The drills therefore serve both as an opportunity for troops to familiarise themselves with the equipment and as preparation for closer operational cooperation.Wang added that the exercise reflected the high level of strategic trust between Beijing and Islamabad. Developing greater interoperability could support future joint activities involving counter-terrorism, border security and other military operations.

Counter-terrorism operations form the core of the exercise

According to Chinese military officials, the exercise is focused on joint counter-terrorism operations and clearance missions in high-altitude areas.Senior Colonel Chen Xi, a spokesperson for China’s ministry of National defence, said on Saturday that the programme would include training in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations, mobile target detection and firing, and long-range sniping.The exercise will also involve joint command activities and live-force training, according to the Chinese military.Military expert Zhang Jueshe told the global times that China and Pakistan had complementary capabilities in counter-terrorism, creating opportunities to deepen cooperation through intelligence sharing, joint operations, technology transfers and exchanges of operational experience.Zhang said China could provide Pakistan with technical assistance and equipment, including drones and intelligent combat platforms, to strengthen surveillance and early-warning capabilities against terrorist groups. Training and exchanges of counter-terrorism experience could also form part of the cooperation.At the same time, Pakistan’s experience in managing complex border security challenges, dealing with local separatist groups and coordinating counter-terrorism operations could offer lessons for China in addressing similar non-traditional security threats, he added.

Drills expected to strengthen China-Pakistan military ties

The Karakoram 2026 exercise is expected to broaden military cooperation between the two countries, with a particular focus on counter-terrorism and high-altitude operations.Zhang said the drills would help strengthen mutual trust and improve coordination through the exchange of expertise and operational experience.The exercise also provides an opportunity for Chinese and Pakistani troops to practise working with common equipment and procedures, potentially improving their ability to operate together in future missions.The launch of the joint army drills marks a new phase in the two countries’ military engagement, expanding cooperation beyond their established air force and naval exercises.