Disclaimer: The appearance of US Department of Defence (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. Exercise details and statements in verbatim have been extracted from an official media release issued by the US Army Central Public Affairs Office. The content underneath ‘Comments’ heading have been added by Pakistan Insider and have no relation or endorsement with DoD whatsoever.

An observer from Pakistan Army was part of exercise Regional Cooperation 2019 (RC19) held from 5 – 16 August in Tajikistan. The exercise was sponsored by US Central Command (USCENTCOM) with the assistance of  Massachusetts Army National Guard.

According to a media release by the US Army Central Public Affairs, the objective of conducting RC19 was to strengthen existing military cooperation among members of the US, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and promote interoperability in the Central and South Asia (CASA) region.

The exercise simulated a fictionalised scenario which focused on multiple operations that can be undertaken by military forces in a destabilised country. The exercise platform enabled participants to experience, and the Pakistan Army observer Colonel Muhammad Rashid Khan to witness, how regional states can familiarise with each other’s operational methodologies to overcome a looming crisis.

Army Sgt. 1st Class James O’Donoghue, left, operations noncommissioned officer for exercise Regional Cooperation 2019 (RC19), 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment, 86th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, and Land Forces Pakistani Army Col. Muhammad Rashid Khan, RC19 observer, discuss scenario operations during a joint training exercise at Dushanbe, Tajikistan, August 10, 2019. Exercise Regional Cooperation is an annual exercise to help strengthen military-to-military relationships between the United States and partners in Central and South Asia. The exercise enhances regional security and stability among the participating nations. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Spc. Ashton Koller)

From left, Army Staff Sgt. Myrna Bistros, intelligence support to information operations for exercise Regional Cooperation 2019, 303rd Information Operations Battalion, 151st Theater Informations Operations Group, United States Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command; Daler Djavadov, Tajikistan linguist for RC19; Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Brown, operations sergeant major for RC19, 51st Troop Command, Massachusetts Army National Guard; and Tajik Army Capt. Nope Muhammad, information operations, Task Force Patriot; all discuss exercise operations during Regional Cooperation 2019 at Dushanbe, Tajikistan, August 10, 2019. Exercise Regional Cooperation is an annual exercise to help strengthen military-to-military relationships between the United States and partners in Central and South Asia. The exercise enhances regional security and stability among the participating nations. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Spc. Ashton Koller)

Mongolian Army 1st Lt. Greet-Od Alexandr, fuel supply officer for exercise Regional Cooperation 2019 (RC19), left, and U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Glidden, deputy lead of logistics for RC19, 51st Troop Command, Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment, discuss training operations during exercise Regional Cooperation 2019 at Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 2019. Exercise Regional Cooperation is an annual exercise to help strengthen military-to-military relationships between the United States and partners in Central and South Asia. The exercise enhances regional security and stability among the participating nations. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Spc. Ashton Koller)

Colonel Anvar Akhmadjonzoda of the Tajikistan Armed Forces said that the exercise helped his national forces achieve absolute inter-unit compatibility while being involved in external peacekeeping operations.

“Tajiks, Mongols, Pakistanis, Uzbeks and Americans all have the same goal here, but various approaches and paths to a solution“, said Colonel Akhmadjonzoda.

Exercise Regional Cooperation has been conducted annually since 2001; the previous series was held in Massachusetts, US in September 2018.

Comments

The participation of an observer from Pakistan Army is noteworthy. On the regional front, Pakistan is already part of a China-led Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism (QCCM) which was formed in 2016 for the express purposes of countering terrorism; it comprises armed forces of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and Tajikistan.

US-led Regional Cooperation exercises, although a series of annual drills focused largely on stability and peacekeeping operations, provides Tajikistan with a unique experience of inter-operability with leading military forces of the West (US) and East (China).

Pakistan, also part of USCENTCOM’s Area of Responsibility (AOR), is an important partner for America’s stated efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan. It remains to be seen whether Pakistan will remain an Observer in Regional Cooperation exercises or become a full-fledged participating state in the near future.