- By Ajeet Kumar
- Sat, 10 Jan 2026 03:28 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Pakistan and the US have started joint anti-terrorism military exercises at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Pabbi town of Punjab's Kharian district, the military's media wing said on Saturday. The exercise marks the latest in warming relations between Pakistan and the US, after the 9/11 terrorist attack; although this isn't the first time after such a horrific attack on America.
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Notably, Pakistan’s army has a record of differentiating between "good" and "bad" terrorists, raising doubts over the credibility of any joint counter-terror cooperation. Moreover, the joint drills may dilute India’s long-held position that Pakistan remains a sponsor of cross-border terrorism. This also undermines New Delhi’s continuous effort to corner Islamabad over the recent massacre in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said that the 13th Pakistan-United States bilateral joint exercise, ‘Inspired Gambit–2026', commenced on Friday. The NCTC serves as a key facility for joint anti-terrorism exercises by Pakistan with international partners like China and the US.
The two-week-long exercise is being conducted in the Counter Terrorism (CT) domain, involving contingents from the armies of Pakistan and the United States, the ISPR said.
(Airmen from the US and Pakistan Air Forces perform a foreign object debris (FOD) walk at a Pakistan Operational Air Force Base, March 2, 2022. | CREDIT: US Air Force Central)
According to the ISPR, the exercise is aimed at enhancing mutual understanding and interoperability through the sharing of counter-terrorism experiences, while further refining tactics, techniques, and procedures essential for effective CT operations. The ISPR said such joint training exercises are of vital importance in addressing evolving security challenges, improving professional military standards and strengthening the capacity of both forces to operate in complex counter-terrorism environments.
Why is it concerning for India
1. Military legitimacy for Pakistan Army: US exercises risk rehabilitating Pakistan’s military internationally despite its links to terror groups targeting India.
2. Operational insights risk: Joint drills could expose US counter-terror tactics to Pakistan’s military, which India fears may be selectively shared or misused.
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3. Undermines FATF pressure: Military engagement weakens international scrutiny on Pakistan’s terror financing record, easing pressure created through FATF mechanisms.
4. Endorse Pakistan's Kashmir stance: Islamabad may project the exercises as US endorsement, hardening its stance on Kashmir and Line of Control provocations.
5. Contradicts Indo-Pacific strategy: Deeper US-Pakistan defence cooperation appears inconsistent with Washington’s stated priority of strengthening India as a regional security partner.
(With inputs from agency)