China, Nepal armies to hold 10-day joint counter-terror drills from 21 Sep

Contingents of the armies of China and Nepal will hold 10-day joint exercises in counter-terrorism operations in urban areas starting from Saturday, 21 September, in China's Chongqing city.

According to the annual plan agreed by China and Nepal, the militaries of the two countries will hold 'Mt Everest Friendship 2024' joint army training, the Chinese Defence Ministry said on Friday.

This is the fourth round of military drills between the two armies.

The joint training will be conducted around rappelling or fast roping, improvised explosive device (IED) search and removal, checkpoint blockade, infiltration approaching, armed rescue and other subjects.

The exercises aim to further deepen the pragmatic communication and cooperation between the two sides, enhance their capabilities in undertaking joint counter-terrorism operations, and inject more positive factors into regional stability, the Chinese military said.

The drills aim to enhance capabilities in disaster management, humanitarian assistance, and United Nations peacekeeping missions, according to a statement from the Nepal Army Directorate of Public Relations and Information.

The exercise, scheduled to take place in Chongqing from September 21 to 1 October, will focus on knowledge sharing in disaster management, counter-terrorism, and peacekeeping operations, the Kathmandu Post reported.

This marks the fourth iteration of the exercise, which began in 2017. Held annually on an alternating basis between Nepal and China, the event was paused due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Pacific Angel, the joint exercise between the Nepal Army and the United States Army, which began on September 15, concluded on Friday.

During the exercise, knowledge was exchanged regarding methods and procedures necessary for effective search and rescue operations, said the Nepal Army.

The joint exercise took place in Kathmandu, Makawanpur, and Dhading, the Kathmandu Post reported.

Since 2012, the exercise has been conducted with the aim of enhancing disaster response capabilities through the exchange of experiences in disaster management and humanitarian assistance, the Nepal Army said.