ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China are conducting a two-week joint counterterrorism exercise, the Pakistan Army said on Thursday, marking another expansion in military cooperation between the two strategic partners.

The drills, known as Warrior-IX, run from Nov. 28 to Dec. 14 at Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) in Pabbi, a major training hub for operations against militant networks that have carried out attacks across the country. Such exercises have become a recurring feature of Pakistan-China security ties, which span counterterrorism coordination, intelligence sharing, and defense technology partnerships.

Senior delegations attended the Distinguished Visitors Day on Thursday, including China’s ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, and Pakistan’s Chief of General Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. Officials observed field drills and received briefings on the objectives and scope of the exercise.

“The exercise reflects strong defense collaboration between Pakistan and China and reaffirms the commitment of both Armed Forces to working together for peace and stability,” the Pakistan military said.

According to the army, dignitaries viewed a range of counterterrorism demonstrations and praised the participating troops for their professionalism and operational readiness. China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and Pakistan Army units regularly train together as both countries cite shared security threats, including attacks targeting Chinese nationals and projects inside Pakistan.

Pakistan and China have maintained one of Asia’s closest defense partnerships since the 1960s, rooted in shared strategic interests and long-term military cooperation. China is Pakistan’s largest supplier of military hardware, providing fighter aircraft, naval vessels, air-defense systems and armored platforms, including co-production of the JF-17 fighter jet under a major joint program launched in 1999. The two militaries routinely collaborate on training, intelligence exchange and counterterrorism coordination, and conduct regular joint exercises across all three services: army, navy, and air force.

Security cooperation has deepened further under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), where Beijing has sought enhanced protection for Chinese workers and infrastructure targeted by insurgent groups. In recent years, the two sides have carried out joint counterterrorism drills, maritime security exercises in the Arabian Sea, and high-level defense consultations aimed at improving interoperability and responding to shared threats, including militant violence and regional instability. Both governments publicly describe their military ties as a “strategic partnership” and “ironclad friendship.”