“We know there are existing and historical unresolved conflicts between PakistanáandáIndia. But I think after they joined the SCO , mayábe we can provide a better platform and opportunities for the building of relations between them,” he added.

For the first time, the militaries ofáIndiaáandáPakistanáare taking part in an ongoing mega anti-terror drill of the SCO ináRussiaáaimed at expanding cooperation among the member countries to deal with the growing menace of terrorism and extremism. It is a step forward ináachieving the goal ofáhaving joint working for promotingápeace and stability in the region, officials said. The counter-terrorism drill by SCO countries, began last Wednesday, is the largest under the SCO charter with the participation of India and Pakistan for the first time, and Chinese experts say the drill will greatly contribute to stability in Central and South Asia.á

Theá joint drill which will be held until August 29, see the participation of at least 3,000 soldiers from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, India and Pakistan, and 10 representatives from Uzbekistan will serve as observers.

The main areas of the joint drill include field reconnaissance, joint strikes, and counter-terrorism operations in residential areas. á The drill plays a positive role in deepening defense and security cooperation among member countries, enhancing capacity in tackling new threats and challenges, and safeguarding regional peace and stability,áChina’s Ministry of National Defenceáspokesperson Ren Guoqiang said at a recent press conference.á

The previous SCO counter-terrorism drills were mainly limited toáCentral Asia. But because of the entry ofáIndiaáandáPakistan, the SCO’s counter-terrorism mission has expanded to South Asia, Li Wei, a counter-terrorism expert at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations inBeijing.