Pakistan and Sri Lanka began a two-week [1] joint counter-terrorism exercise on Monday, April 27 [1].

This bilateral operation, titled 'Shake Hands-II', signals a commitment to shared security cooperation between the two South Asian nations. By coordinating special forces operations, both armies seek to enhance their tactical capabilities in counter-terrorism environments.

The exercise involves the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG) and Special Forces from the Sri Lankan Army [1, 2, 3]. The training takes place at Tarbela [1, 2, 3].

Both armies are conducting the joint exercise to improve their combined tactical proficiency. The operation focuses on high-risk counter-terrorism scenarios to ensure that special forces units can operate effectively under pressure.

According to reports from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the exercise is designed to enhance the interoperability of the two nations' special forces. The training includes various counter-terrorism drills up to the two-week [1] duration.

Special forces from Sri Lanka and Pakistan are working together to share best practices in urban warfare and unconventional warfare. The goal is to ensure that the two armies can respond to asymmetric threats across the region.

Throughout the two-week [1] period, the forces will engage in various simulation exercises. These simulations are designed to mimic real-world counter-terrorism operations to provide a realistic training environment for the personnel involved.

“Pakistan and Sri Lanka began a two-week joint counter-terrorism exercise on Monday, April 27.”

The 'Shake Hands-II' exercise represents a strategic alignment of South Asian security forces. By focusing on counter-terrorism, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are Pakistan and Sri Lanka are formalizing a security partnership that prioritizes tactical interoperability over regional political tensions. This cooperation is likely to be a pillar of the future security architecture of the Indian Ocean region.