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News: The Exercise Karakoram-2026 exercise was China and Pakistan’s first joint-army level exercise, held in Xinjiang from 14 to 22 October 2026.
About Exercise Karakoram-2026
- Exercise Karakoram-2026 is the first joint-army level exercise between People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and Pakistan Army.
- Location: It was held from 14th -22nd October 2026 at a training facility near Korla, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China.
- Hosted by: It was being hosted by China.
- Focus: The focus was on challenging high-altitude operations, relevant to the PLA’s Western Theatre Command which oversees the border with India.
- Features:
- Unlike earlier exercises focused on special forces and counter-terrorism, it has extended cooperation to regular land forces, enabling joint command, coordinated manoeuvres and mixed-unit operations, building on earlier naval, air and counter-terrorism exercises (Sea Guardian, Warrior and Shaheen series).
- The Warrior series focuses on specialised and counter-terrorism operations, Shaheen covers air forces, and Sea Guardian addresses maritime cooperation.
- It was conducted in two phases:
- Phase I: It involved troops from both sides practicing specialised tactics, close-quarter combat and unmanned aerial vehicle (or drone) operations.
- Phase II: It entailed joint command, mixed formations and combat teams undertaking counterterrorism clearance operations, joint manoeuvres and coordinated fire drills.
- Unlike earlier exercises focused on special forces and counter-terrorism, it has extended cooperation to regular land forces, enabling joint command, coordinated manoeuvres and mixed-unit operations, building on earlier naval, air and counter-terrorism exercises (Sea Guardian, Warrior and Shaheen series).
- Implications for India:
- Korla is located in Xinjiang, a strategically important region for China’s military operations along the Indian border.
- Its proximity to the Karakoram region and the disputed Shaksgam Valley adds to its importance.
- Pakistan transferred control of Shaksgam Valley to China under the 1963 agreement, which India rejects.
- Karakoram-2026 is showcasing China-Pakistan nexus, therefore, compounds India’s security threat on the Northern border.
