The two-week-long Pakistan–Sri Lanka joint counterterrorism exercise, “Shake Hands-II,” successfully concluded at Tarbela, reaffirming the longstanding military partnership and strategic cooperation between the armed forces of the two friendly nations.
The exercise brought together elite combat teams from the Special Services Group (SSG) of the Pakistan Army and the Sri Lankan Special Forces, who participated in intensive joint training focused on modern counterterrorism operations, tactical coordination, and special operations procedures.
The closing ceremony was attended by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Special Services Group as the chief guest. Major General Ajith Abeyawardana (WWV RWP RSP) of the Sri Lankan Army also witnessed the concluding session and appreciated the professionalism and operational preparedness demonstrated throughout the exercise.
During the training phase, participating troops conducted a wide range of specialized drills designed to enhance interoperability, combat readiness, and tactical synchronization in complex counterterrorism environments. The exercise included close-quarter battle techniques, intelligence-based operations, hostage rescue procedures, urban warfare tactics, and coordinated response mechanisms against evolving security threats.
Military officials stated that “Shake Hands-II” was aimed at refining operational drills, procedures, and techniques involved in counterterrorism missions through realistic joint training scenarios. The exercise also served as a platform to exchange professional expertise and operational experiences between the two armies.
Participants from both sides displayed the highest standards of professional excellence, discipline, and operational capability during the exercise. Observers noted that the collaborative training reflected the growing defense cooperation and mutual trust shared by Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Defence analysts view such bilateral military engagements as significant for strengthening regional security cooperation and improving the collective capacity of friendly nations to respond to emerging security challenges, particularly in the counterterrorism domain.
The successful completion of “Shake Hands-II” further highlighted the deep-rooted and historic military-to-military relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which continue to expand through regular exchanges, training initiatives, and defense collaboration.
Officials from both countries expressed confidence that the exercise would contribute positively toward enhancing operational coordination, professional understanding, and long-term strategic partnership between the two armed forces.
