Russia rejects reports of military drills with Pakistan in PoK

However, some reports suggested that Russia cancelled its plans to hold military drills in PoK after India protested.

Islamabad

: Russia on Friday denied that their first ever joint military exercise with Pakistan would be partly held in the Gilgit-Baltistan area in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

According to reports, Russia described as ‘erroneous’ and ‘mischievous’ reports that said it would be holding joint military exercises with Pakistan in PoK.

Russian state-run news agency TASS had earlier reported that the opening ceremony will take place at an army school in Rattu in Gilgit-Baltistan, but the information was later taken off the website, said reports.

In its statement, the Russian Embassy said that “the Russia-Pakistan anti-terror exercise is not being held and will not be held in any point of so-called ‘Azad Kashmir’ (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan. The only venue of the exercise is Cherat.”

However, some reports suggested that Russia had cancelled its plans to hold military drills in PoK after India protested.

About 200 troops from Russia and Pakistan will take part in the two-week military drill named 'Friendship 2016' between September 24 and October 7.

Pakistan’s relations with the US soured recently when the sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to that country was blocked by lawmakers, and is trying to improve relations with Moscow to counter any further deterioration in ties with the US.

High-level exchanges between Islamabad and Moscow had seen Pakistani military heads visiting Russia, and a deal was signed for the sale of four MI-35 attack helicopters to Islamabad. Pakistan is also exploring buying Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, said reports.

India has made significant progress in its goal to isolate Pakistan internationally over the Uri attacks, stating at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that Pakistan is a terrorist state which ‘attracts aspirants from all over the world’.

On the other hand, the UN as well as world powers including America, Britain, Russia and others have largely ignored Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s repeated pleas for international mediation in Kashmir.