India, Pakistan to Participate Together in SCO Counter-Terror Exercise

For the first time, India and Pakistan will be part of a multi-nation counter-terror exercise.

The counter-terror exercise is to be conducted in Russia in September 2018.
It will be joined by China and several other countries.
The military exercise is going to take place under the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
India’s participation at exercise was confirmed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during meeting of SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting held in Beijing in April 2018.

Key Facts

The military drill will be held in the Ural Mountains of Russia and almost all SCO member countries will be part of it.
The main objective of this Peace Mission is to enhance counter-terror cooperation among the eight SCO member countries.
Though armies of India and Pakistan have worked together in UN peacekeeping missions, but this would be the first time since Independence that both these countries would together be a part of some military exercise.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the Presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
It is a political and security grouping headquartered in Beijing.
Its full time members are- China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, India and Pakistan.
They represent over 40% of humanity and nearly 20% of the global GDP.
Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia have observer status at present.
India and Pakistan were also admitted as observers in 2005 but they finally became full members in 2017.
India's membership was strongly pushed by Russia while Pakistan's entry into the grouping was backed by China.
SCO is successor of grouping called Shanghai Five, founded by China in 1996.
Summits of the Council of Heads of State are held annually at alternating venues.
The basic objective of SCO is to enhance military cooperation among its members.
It also works towards intelligence-sharing, counter-terrorism operations in Central Asia.

Where are the headquarters of SCO located?
Answer: Beijing, China

Name the mission/military drill of SCO which would witness the participation of India and Pakistan?
Answer: Peace Mission 2018

When did India and Pakistan become the full members of SCO?
Answer: 2017

How many member countries are there in SCO?
Answer: eight