The two-week-long joint military counter-terrorism exercises between Pakistan and the US, code-named “Inspired Gambit-2026,” have commenced in the northeastern Pakistani province of Punjab on Friday, underscoring continued military cooperation between Islamabad and Washington in light of evolving balances of power in the region.According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military spokesperson for the Pakistan Army, the 13th joint military exercise will be conducted at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in the Pabbi region of the Kharian district.
The Pakistani military presents the exercise as a ‘mutually reinforcing platform’ in acquiring CT capabilities, but analysts believe that such exercises usually have a political, strategic subtext, signifying the alignment of Pakistan with the US military designs in South Asia and beyond. Notwithstanding this stated motive, the timing of Inspired Gambit-2026 in the backdrop of increased tensions in Afghanistan and greater regional security challenges lends wider geopolitical importance to this exercise.
Objectives and Operational Scope: Urban Warfare in Focus
ISPR has clarified that
“Inspired Gambit-2026 aims to promote joint understanding and interoperability in the sharing of experiences in the area of counter-terrorism, while improving combat tactics, techniques, and procedures critical to the success of CT operations.”
This exercise gives
“specific focus to Urban Warfare, Marksmanship Skills, CQQ and Tactical Operations in JIEC environments.”
Urban warfare continues to be an important area of focus in light of lessons learned from recent operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, where US and other forces were faced with unique challenges in combating insurgency operations. Urban counter-terrorism operations remain a pressing consideration in Pakistan as a result of a sporadic rise of militancies in the region bordering Afghanistan and fears of their penetration in urban areas.
While these exercises undoubtedly improve technical coordination, critics caution that they risk creating an over-reliance on Western military doctrine. Professor Hassan Raza, a security analyst at the National Defence University in Islamabad, noted, “While interoperability is essential, excessive reliance on US operational frameworks could undermine the development of indigenous Pakistani strategies tailored to its unique security environment.”
Inspired Gambit-2026 is the 13th installment of this joint exercise, a tradition that was initiated more than a decade ago with a view to enhancing joint counter-terror efforts. The previous joint exercise, Inspired Gambit-2025, took place in Kharian and covered a range of activities, such as urban warfare simulation, handling of explosives, and sharing of intelligence. The exercise made news for the presence of highly specialized US forces trained for high-end surveillance and counter-insurgency activities.
In the past, joint drills between the two countries have originated from a wider United States-Pakistan alliance with respect to counter-terrorism following the occurrence of the 9/11 attacks. Over time, joint drills between the countries have acted as a means to an end with respect to a number of goals.
The US-Pakistan military relationship has seen periodic strains, however, especially in areas of mutual trust and alignment of strategic objectives. Whereas Islamabad approaches the relationship through the prism of regional stability and domestic security, Washington takes a more holistic view that also encompasses the Afghan peace process, nuclear security, and neutrality vis-à-vis Chinese hegemony in South Asia. Against this backdrop, joint exercises such as Inspired Gambit-2026 serve both as confidence-building and a platform for projecting US strategic interests in the region.
Regional Implications and Strategic Considerations
Inspired Gambit-2026 develops against the backdrop of a dynamic balance of power in South Asia. The rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the tension on the Indian-Pak border, and the growing influence of China in the region make it a complex security environment. In this manner, Pakistan through its exercises not only expresses its eagerness to respond effectively to terrorism threats but also provides an implied commitment to Washington regarding its partnership and loyalty.
The drills mentioned above also have an economical and technology-based aspect. By being trained on US counter-terrorism technology, such as urban warfare simulation tools and intelligence systems, Pakistani troops acquire improved capabilities. At the same time, there are questions about sustainable development due to a dependence on foreign defense capabilities and training. As mentioned by analysts, there needs to be an equal focus on defense research and development to make drills transformative.
Furthermore, there is a certain level of symbolic meaning associated with the exercise. India, for instance, has been observing other Inspired Gambit exercises in the past and has done so with a hint of suspicion and has perceived it to be a move of strength and willingness to cooperate on the US military strategy. Additionally, the changing environment poses a certain level of sensitiveness associated with Islamabad’s response to cross-border militancy.
Naval Capabilities and Integrated Security Posture
Along with the Inspired Gambit-2026, the Pakistan Navy successfully test-launched the LY-80(N) Surface-to-Air Missile in the North Arabian Sea. The significance of this launch lies in its alignment with the overall momentum regarding developing full-spectrum domain security capabiilties in the region and beyond, as the Pakistani authorities seek to integrate their naval air defenses with their counter-terror security and readiness on land.
This integrated display of strength has larger strategic implications than just counter-terrorism. The North Arabian Sea, in particular, is one of the main arteries through which international shipping and energy flow. This demonstration of air defense strength is therefore intended as a message, or indeed a warning, to regional adversaries, especially India and Iran.
Critique and Challenges
In spite of the advantage of the operation method, Inspired Gambit-2026 has been criticized on several grounds. It has been pointed out that mega-joint operations mostly concentrate on tactical and procedural cooperation and do not take into consideration the structural causes of terrorism in relation to economic imbalance and radicalization of groups that operate beyond the border of the state itself.
Moreover, the mere presence of US troops in Pakistan can prove politically contentious for Islamabad. There have been instances in the past where opposition parties in Pakistan with nationalist leanings have raised concerns about joint military exercises undermining the sovereignty of the state. Such perceptions tend to resonate, especially during moments of heightened anti-Western sentiment within Pakistani society.
Financial limitations are also an issue. Maintaining high-intensity exercises with US participation is expensive, and this further hinders the Pakistani defense budget. Analysts feel that when tactical skills increase, the long-run rate of return on such exercises might not be substantial if exercised in conjunction with other structural changes in their intelligence and law enforcement, as well as counter-radicalization programs.
Gambit-2026 is one example that exemplifies the dual nature of defense cooperation between Washington and Islamabad. While being strategically advantageous for both sides, it is also full of political undertones. One can also argue that it is an example that reinforces Pakistani ambitions to move towards its own native counter-terrorism strategies.
As Pakistan navigates regional threats and evolving alliances, joint exercises like Inspired Gambit-2026 remain essential tools—but they must be complemented by long-term strategic planning, investment in domestic capabilities, and careful diplomacy to ensure that security gains are meaningful, not merely symbolic.
