The ninth iteration of the Pakistan–China joint military counterterrorism exercise, “Warrior IX,” has officially started. The drill began on December 1, 2025, and will run until mid-December. Training is taking place at the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) in Pabbi, Kharian district, Pakistan. The exercise brings together personnel from the Pakistan Army and specialized units of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
According to China’s Ministry of National Defense, the core subject of the exercise is “joint anti-terrorist elimination and suppression operations.” This explicit focus on decisive “clearance and strike operations” aims to test and strengthen the two militaries’ combined ability to dismantle sophisticated terror networks. The PLA contingent participating in the drill is drawn from the Western Theater Command — the formation responsible for securing China’s vast western border regions and the starting point of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The attendance of senior officials, including Major General Bian Xiaoming, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Western Theater Command, further highlights the strategic weight of the cooperation.
The exercise addresses security challenges affecting CPEC, a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Since the seventh edition of the “Warrior” series, the drills have formally included the “joint defense of critical facilities,” covering CPEC’s strategic infrastructure. “Warrior IX” continues this approach, building on techniques and equipment integration demonstrated in previous exercises such as “Warrior VIII,” and aims to protect Chinese personnel and assets.
The “Warrior” series is part of a broader, comprehensive military partnership between China and Pakistan, which also includes Shaheen air combat exercises and Sea Guardians naval drills. By institutionalizing joint counterterrorism strategies, “Warrior IX” further strengthens military coordination between the two countries.
