Thaindian News

Beijing July 5 (ANI): Pakistani and Chinese troops taking part in the ongoing anti-terror drill being held at a training base of the Lanzhou Military Command, which guards the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, have been hitting the target with never seen before perfection.

Both countries have sent their top and experienced troops for the drill dubbed ‘Friendship-2010′.

“I have never seen such excellent and efficient shooting. It was second to none in the world,” said Zafar Niazi, the 36-year-old commander of the 113-strong Pakistani Special Forces group taking part in the drill.

The weeklong anti-terror exercise coincides with the first year anniversary of the ethnic riots in Xinjiang, which left at least 197 people dead and more than 1,700 injured, and Pakistani officials pointed out that the exercise would prove to be of great help for the local security forces to counter terrorism in the region.

“Owning to the prevailing environments in our region, there is a need to enhance our cooperation,” The China Daily quoted Lieutenant General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Chief of the General Staff of the Pakistani Army, as saying.

“The joint exercise is crucial for upgrading troops’ capabilities in fighting terrorism together and safeguarding regional peace and security,” added Lieutenant General Wang Guosheng, commander of Lanzhou Military Command.

According to reports, numerous members of the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which led the riots in Xinjiang, have fled to Pakistan and planning future plots from there.

“It is not hard for them (ETIM members) to hide in Pakistan. They have similar religious beliefs, appearances and languages as the locals,” a report in a local newspaper said.

It is also believed that the ETIM is working in close collaboration with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden.

An ETIM leader is also reportedly hiding in Pakistan and there are reports of a “Chinese battalion” made up of about 320 ETIM members in the Taliban’s military. (ANI)