Pakistan Army Tests Russian Weapons During Friendship 2017 Exercise

Russian and Pakistani troops held joint firing exercise using small arms in Karachay-Cherkessia, Southern Military District during the course of ‘Friendship 2017’ army exercise.

At the firing instruction the Russian scouts presented their Pakistani counterparts with the AGS-17 Plamya machine gun, RPG-7B antitank grenade launcher, NSVS Utes machine gun, SVD-S sniper rifle and Makarov, Yarygin and Stechkin pistols.

Having completed firing instruction, the Pakistani servicemen pointed out that the Russian small arms were very reliable and easy-to-operate, Russian MoD said.

The event involved more than 200 troops from the Pakistan and recon company of the Southern MD motorized rifle mountain brigade.

Meanwhile, The Pakistan Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa will visit Russia next week to witness the concluding session of the Friendship 2017 military exercise, Pakistan media reported.

Joint military exercises are progressing in the Caucasian Range where servicemen of the two countries are conducting combat training in high altitude mountainous conditions for fighting against terrorists groups and conventional illegal armed formations.

Russia is warming up to Pakistan as a potential buyer of its weapons following the diversification of arms procurement by its traditional ally, India.