China and Pakistan Launch First Joint Army Exercise
China and Pakistan began their first joint army training exercise in Xinjiang, while India and the UAE concluded mountain warfare drills in Uttarakhand.
The Central Military Commission of China and the Military of Pakistan launched Karakoram 2026, their first-ever joint army training exercise, on October 14, 2026. Based in Korla, within the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the drills focus on counter-terrorism operations in high-altitude environments. The initial skills exchange phase recently concluded, covering long-range sniping, UAV operations, tactical climbing, and close-quarters combat to establish a foundation for upcoming specialized training.
Simultaneously, the Indian Army and the United Arab Emirates Land Forces concluded Mountain Guardian 2026 on October 18. The two-week exercise, held at the Foreign Training Node in Chaubatia, Uttarakhand, focused on sub-conventional operations and tactical drills to improve combat effectiveness. This event follows a broader trend of strategic defense cooperation between India and the UAE, including maritime security talks held in Abu Dhabi in September 2026.
