New Delhi: Russia on Friday categorically stated that the reports saying that Russia-Pakistan anti terror exercise is being held in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are completely false.
Russia officially announced that its first ever joint military drill with Pakistan will be held only in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region and not in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit-Baltistan, which is a part of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir
All reports alleging the drills will be taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous, Russia stated.
“The only venue of the exercise is Cherat,” said a statement by the Russian Embassy in New Delhi, referring to a place in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa. Cherat lies 34 miles south east from Peshawar.
“All reports alleging the drills taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous,” the Russian Embassy said.
Earlier, media reports from Islamabad said the exercises will take place at Pakistan Army’s High Altitude School in Rattu in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Russian forces arrived in Pakistan today for its first ever joint military drill that begins on Saturday.
The military exercise in which around 200 Russian army men are participating, was earlier reported to have been cancelled in the wake of the killing of 18 soldiers in the September 18 terror attack on an Indian Army base in Jammu and Kashmir.
The two-week military drill named `Friendship 2016` is the first between the two former Cold War rivals. It will continue till October 7, according to the Pakistan media.
Militaries of the two countries have not revealed much about the drill. But it is said to take place in “mountainous areas”.
The exercise is a signal that Moscow and Islamabad are deepening their military cooperation.
Bureau Report
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