PABBI, Pakistan: Pakistan and the United States have launched their 13th bilateral joint military exercise, Inspired Gambit–2026, aimed at strengthening counterterrorism cooperation between the two allies, the military’s media wing, ISPR, said on Saturday
The two-week-long exercise began on January 9 at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Pabbi, located in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It brings together professional contingents from the armies of both countries and focuses on counterterrorism operations.
Officials from Pakistan and the United States attended the opening ceremony, marking the start of drills designed to enhance mutual understanding and operational interoperability.
According to the military, the exercise will focus on sharing counterterrorism experience, refining tactics and procedures, and improving combat skills, particularly marksmanship in urban warfare settings. Participants will also work to better understand each other’s operational doctrines and best practices.
Military officials say such joint exercises are critical for addressing evolving security challenges and strengthening the ability of both forces to operate effectively in complex counterterrorism environments. The drills reflect continued cooperation between Islamabad and Washington on regional security and stability.
The United States and Pakistan share a long-standing counterterrorism partnership involving regular dialogue, intelligence sharing, training, technical assistance and joint military exercises, aimed at countering regional and transnational threats such as ISIS-K and the TTP and promoting regional stability.
