The Russian military announced on Thursday that special forces of the armies of Russia and Pakistan would hold exercises in early October.
The press office of Russia's Southern Military District announced the news to the TASS news agency. The exercise between the armies, dubbed Friendship-2019, would be held at “the Molkino practice range near the city of Krasnodar in south Russia in early October”. This will be the fourth edition of the Friendship exercises.
The press office told TASS that Pakistani special forces “would accomplish combat training missions using Russian armament”. The exercise would be aimed at “exchanging experience between servicemen, developing and strengthening bilateral military and military-technical cooperation”.
Since lifting its arms embargo on Pakistan in June 2014, Russia has increased engagement with Islamabad in the field of defence. In October 2016, the armies of Pakistan and Russia held their first exercise, called Friendship 2016, in Pakistan. The 2017 exercise was held in Minralney Vody in the North Caucasus, while the 2018 exercise was held in Nowshera in north-western Pakistan.
In 2015, Pakistan announced a deal to buy four Russian Mi-35M in the first direct arms deal between the two nations since the lifting of the arms embargo. The Mi-35M is a helicopter capable of firing guns, rockets and missiles and also carrying a small contingent of troops.
Even before the lifting of the arms embargo, Russia agreed to supply a derivative of the RD-33 jet engine for use on the JF-17 fighter aircraft that Pakistan is building with Chinese assistance. Pakistan has built over 100 JF-17 fighters since the aircraft entered production in 2009 and the type is the mainstay of Pakistan's Air Force. Ironically, the Mi-35 and the RD-33 engine, which powers the MiG-29 fighter, have been in service with the Indian military for decades. Russia had also sold the Mi-17 transport helicopter to Pakistan in 2004.
In an interview with Russia's Sputnik news agency in June, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan revealed interest in buying weaponry from Russia. Khan said, “Yes, we are looking for arms from Russia, and I know our military is already in touch with the Russian military.” Media reports earlier this year claimed Pakistan was interested in buying Russian-made 'Pantsir' air defence systems and T-90 tanks.
