Rawalpindi, Jan 15 — Pakistan Army and the United States Army are jointly conducting Exercise Inspired Gambit–2026, a two-week counterterrorism-focused military drill running from January 8 to 16, aimed at strengthening bilateral defense cooperation and operational interoperability.
According to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the exercise marks the 13th iteration of the long-running Pakistan–US bilateral training series that began in 1995, underscoring sustained military engagement between the two countries in the domain of counterterrorism (CT).
A Distinguished Visitors’ Day ceremony was held on January 15 at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Pabbi, where Her Excellency Ms. Natalie Baker, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States of America to Pakistan, visited the facility along with senior US military officials. The ceremony was also attended by the Commander Rawalpindi Corps.
During the visit, dignitaries were briefed on the scope, objectives, and execution of the exercise. Troops from both armies demonstrated a high level of professionalism, tactical skill, and operational coordination during counterterrorism drills, which drew appreciation from the visiting delegation.
ISPR stated that the exercise is designed to enhance mutual understanding, facilitate the exchange of counterterrorism experiences, refine CT tactics and procedures, and improve interoperability between the two forces in complex operational environments.
Military analysts view Exercise Inspired Gambit–2026 as an important confidence-building measure that contributes to regional stability and reinforces Pakistan and the United States’ shared commitment to combating terrorism through joint training and cooperation.
