In their counterterrorism endeavours, Pakistan and China conducted a joint, three-week anti-terrorism drill in Baluchistan, Pakistan, from 20 November 2024 to 11 December 2024. The drill seeks to help safeguard Beijing’s $70 billion Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure against harmful anti-Chinese rebels in the Baluchistan region. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) assigned around 300 army aviation, special operations, and logistic support soldiers from its Western Theater Command to the drill named, Warrior VIII.

The counter-terrorism drill between China and Pakistan comes at a moment when militant raids on Chinese citizens operating on the CPEC are increasing. Beijing has been requesting Islamabad to make a strong effort to eliminate extremists hitting Chinese citizens in Pakistan.

The Baluch Liberation Army (BLA), an insurgent group, along with the Jihadist group known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) boosted aggression against the Chinese citizens and the Pakistan army in Baluchistan and surrounding KPK connecting the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry representative Lin Jian stated that the PRC firmly backs Pakistan’s struggle to combat terrorism. The 300 Chinese soldiers joined with Pakistan Elite Army’s Special Service Group (SSG).

“The exercise will concentrate on joint counter-terrorism clean-up and strike procedures,”

China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency said.

“The two nations commit to multi-level and hybrid training across different things, and manage live troop exercises following the actual action process,”

Xinhua stated. China’s Ministry of Defense expressed

“This drill seeks to facilitate and heighten practical relations and collaboration between the two armies, as well as to support their mutual anti-terrorism abilities.”

The exercises started at Pakistan’s National Counter-Terrorism office in Pabbi, in the mountainous northwest KPK region, which adjoins Afghanistan around the Khyber Pass gorge, Radio Pakistan said. According to the Pakistan Army’s media wing ISPR

“Distinguished Visitor’s Day (DVD) event of the exercise was performed at Tilla Field Firing Range on 10 December 2024. Pakistan Army’s Lieutenant General Shahid Imtiaz, HI (M) graced the ceremony as Chief Guest, while the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, along with notables from China, were also attending.”