China and Pakistan have launched their first joint army drills, with the high-altitude military exercise taking place in China's Xinjiang region using equipment supplied entirely by Beijing, Chinese state media reported on Thursday.
The exercise, named Karakoram 2026, was inaugurated at a training base in Korla, in the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
According to state-run CCTV, the Chinese military provided all the weapons and equipment used in the drills. These included Type 191 rifles, Type 201 squad machine guns, Type 11 armoured assault vehicles, Type 08 infantry fighting vehicles, artillery, and systems designed for unmanned operations and countering unmanned threats.
The Chinese military said the army exercise was the first of its kind between the two countries, which already hold annual joint drills involving their air forces and navies.
China is also Pakistan's largest arms supplier, accounting for more than 80 per cent of weapons supplied to Pakistan's army, air force and navy.
A Chinese military affairs expert told the official media that the choice of medium-weight wheeled vehicles for high-altitude operations, and Pakistan's use of an all-Chinese lineup, signal deepening military trust and potential future procurement.
The joint exercises with Chinese weapons in high-altitude areas were significant considering the Chinese military’s experience in the Himalayan border region with India.
The opening ceremony for the exercises was held at a training base in Korla, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
It is the first joint army training between the two countries, themed on joint counter-terrorism and clearance operations in high-altitude areas, the CCTV reported.
Wang Yunfei, a military affairs expert, told state-run Global Times that the two types of vehicles deployed for exercises are both wheeled platforms.
In high-altitude areas, wheeled armoured vehicles have their own advantages. Unlike tracked vehicles, they are faster, especially during road manoeuvres and easier to maintain, making them well-suited for movement and combat missions on the plateau.
The all-Chinese equipment lineup covers multiple categories and forms a relatively complete combat system, he said.
On one hand, it shows China has provided weapons and equipment technology to Pakistan. On the other hand, these weapons could be procured by Pakistan in future military trade, further expanding the presence of Chinese equipment in the Pakistan Army, the expert said.
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This joint training thus serves as a rehearsal and a process of familiarisation.
From a broader perspective, it also reflects strategic mutual trust, showing that military cooperation between the two countries has reached a high level. Building this kind of deep interoperability will lay a solid foundation for future joint operations between the two armies in counter-terrorism, border control and other areas, he said.
Zhang Jueshe, another military affairs expert, told the Global Times that China and Pakistan complement each other well in the field of counter-terrorism, while cooperation can be advanced via intelligence sharing, joint operations, technology transfers, experience exchanges and economic cooperation.
"China could provide Pakistan with technical and equipment support, including drones and smart combat platforms, to boost its surveillance and early warning capacity against terrorist groups, and also conduct experience training," he noted.
Pakistan's experience in addressing complex border security situations, handling local separatist forces and coordinating counter-terrorism efforts can also provide references for China to tackle similar non-traditional security challenges, Zhang added.
On Saturday, Senior Colonel Chen Xi, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defence, said the drills focussed on joint counter-terrorism operations in high-altitude areas. The activity will include skills training in UAV operation, on-the-move target search and firing, and long-range sniping, and cover joint command and live-force exercises.
The exercise will expand the scope of China-Pakistan military cooperation, reflect growing mutual trust, and strengthen counter-terrorism collaboration through the sharing of experience and expertise, Zhang said.