Pakistan and Tajikistan Conduct ‘Friendship-2’ Counterterrorism Drill to Strengthen Military Ties

Kokcha News Agency: Pakistan and Tajikistan have jointly conducted a counterterrorism military exercise, named Friendship-2, at the Fakhrabad base in Tajikistan. The Pakistan Army announced on August 9 that all training and military diplomacy objectives of the exercise were successfully achieved.

The six-day drill involved two teams from the Pakistan Army and four teams from Tajikistan’s special forces. According to a statement from the Pakistan Army, troops from both countries demonstrated the highest professional standards throughout the exercise.

The Friendship-2 exercise was designed not only to strengthen the historical military ties between Pakistan and Tajikistan but also to enhance counterterrorism operations through joint training, procedures, and techniques.

Both countries have expressed concerns over the use of Afghan territory by militant groups since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Pakistan has repeatedly claimed that around 6,000 Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters operate from Afghan soil, targeting Pakistani security forces. This has been a persistent source of tension between Islamabad and Kabul.