The ten-day joint anti-terrorist Friendship Exercise-2006 of Pakistan Army and Chinese People s Liberation Army (PLA) has started in the hilly terrain of Pakistan s North West Frontier Province (NWFP), according to an official statement. A sizeable contingent from China comprising Elite Group is taking part in the joint exercise as for the first time any PLA group has been participating in any exercise abroad. An impressive ceremony was held to mark the beginning of the hectic exercise which was chaired by Major General Liu Ming Jiang of PLA and Commander Force Command Northern Areas Major General Mohsin Kamal. Besides a number of senior offers and men from both the armies were also present. The ceremony started with the hoisting of flags of both friendly countries besides playing of their respective national anthems. The smartly turned out contingents participating in the exercise presented salutes to both the flags. A firepower and para-gliding display was also the part of the ceremony. This is the second exercise in the series as back in 2004 Pakistan Army contingent had joined Chinese PLA in Xin Kiang province of the friendly country in similar type of exercise. Major General Liu Ming Jiang said this is for the first time that any Chinese contingent is participating in joint exercise on the land of a country other than China. This joint cooperation is only against the terrorism but not against any third country. He expressed the confidence this joint exercise will go a long way in furthering friendly relations between China and Pakistan. He said that Chinese PLA would attain skill and technique to combat the terrorism in more effective manner. Kamal said Pakistan-China friendship is much deeper than the oceans and higher than the Himalaya and this exercise will prove to be a milestone in furthering them.
