Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives hold anti-terror exercises

Troops from Sri Lanka and the Maldives troops have joined Pakistan in anti-terror military exercises in the country's northwest region, a military statement said on Thursday.

The two-week long exercise was focused on counter-terrorism operations and sharing of field combat experience of the three south Asian countries' armed forces.

The Pakistan military said a large number of friendly countries have requested the Pakistan Army to organise training for their troops in the state-of-the-art Counter Terrorism Training Centre in view of the successful anti-terrorism campaign codenamed "Zarb-e-Azb".

So far, the Pakistan Army has conducted joint exercises with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China and Jordan to enhance combat efficiency, the statement said.

Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharif visited the National Counter Terrorism Training Centre (NCTC) in the town of Pabbi and witnessed the Pakistan-Sri Lanka-Maldives Trilateral Exercise "Eagle Dash-I", the statement said.

General Raheel Sharif underscored that such exercises will consolidate the special relationship between the three countries' forces and help eliminate terrorism from the region.

Foreign military delegates from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and South Africa witnessed the exercise.