Islamabad, Dec. 10 (PTI): A contingent of Chinese troops have arrived at the Pakistan Air Force Base in Chaklala near here to participate in joint exercises focussing on anti-terrorism operations, the Pakistan army said here today.'Friendship 2006' will start in Pakistan on December 11 and the 10-day-long exercises are aimed at strengthening the existing bonds of friendship between armies of the two all-weather allies. "The exercise will be second of its nature, while the first exercise was held in China in 2004," a Pakistan army statement said. The focus of the exercises will be to mutually benefit from each other's experiences in planning and conducting anti-terrorism operations, it said.
It will be for the first time that troops from Peoples Liberation Army will carry out joint exercises outside China. High-level delegations from both the countries are expected to witness the joint exercises, according to the statement.
On arrival at the PAF Base, the PLA delegation was received by senior Pakistan Army Officers. In a ceremony held at Rear Headquarters, Force Command Northern Areas, members of the PLA contingent were decorated with the insignias of exercise 'Friendship 2006.'