Aimed to hike military cooperation through exchange of counter-terrorism experiences, development of interoperability.
Pakistan Army and United States Army conduct a joint military exercise titled ‘Inspired Gambit–2026’ from January 8 to 16. Photo: ISPR
The Pakistan and United States armies are conducting a joint military exercise titled ‘Inspired Gambit–2026’ aimed at enhancing counter-terrorism cooperation between the two forces, the military’s media wing said on Thursday.
According to a press release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the two-week-long exercise from January 8-16 focuses on counter-terrorism operations and marks the 13th iteration of the bilateral training series, which has been held regularly since 1995.
It said a visitors’ ceremony was held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre, attended by US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker and senior US military dignitaries. The ISPR said the commander of the Rawalpindi Corps was also present.
The ISPR said the guests were briefed on the scope, objectives and conduct of the exercise with participants from both armies demonstrating a “high level of professionalism and operational competence, which was appreciated by the visiting dignitaries”.
It added that the exercise was designed to enhance bilateral military cooperation through the exchange of counter-terrorism experiences, refinement of counter-terrorism drills and procedures, and the development of interoperability between the two forces.
Exercise Inspired Gambit–2026 is being conducted from 8 to 16 January 2026 between the Pakistan Army and the United States Army. The two-week-long exercise focusing on Counter Terrorism (CT), marks the 13th iteration of this bilateral training series, held since 1995.… pic.twitter.com/NsAXYBQFQo
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) January 15, 2026
Pakistan’s armed forces regularly conduct joint exercises with foreign militaries to exchange professional expertise and strengthen combat readiness. In this regard, the Pakistan Navy and the Turkish Navy held their first bilateral amphibious exercise in August last year, marking a significant milestone in strengthening maritime collaboration and interoperability between the two friendly navies.
The exercise featured a comprehensive range of training activities, including combat firing techniques, amphibious operation drills, convoy escort procedures, and military operations in urban terrain.
Live firing drills and close combat scenarios were also conducted to sharpen tactical coordination and operational readiness in littoral environments. The exercise culminated in a comprehensive amphibious drill in a designated coastal area, validating the operational preparedness of both navies.
New Heights in Pak-US ties
The United States and Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement reached new heights after US President Donald Trump helped broker a ceasefire between Pakistan and India during their brief war.
Since then, leaders from both nations have exchanged cordial gestures and praised each other’s leadership on international platforms. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif even nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his mediation efforts.
Trump, in turn, frequently appreciated Prime Minister Shehbaz and Pakistan’s military leadership, notably describing Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir as his “favourite Field Marshal.”
Building on the positive momentum, Islamabad now seeks to translate the goodwill into tangible economic benefits by pursuing a more favourable trade agreement with Washington — including concessions on tariffs and expanded market access for Pakistani exports.
In October last year, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US saw an opportunity to strengthen its strategic relationship with Pakistan as part of a broader, pragmatic foreign policy approach.
Rubio said New Delhi understands that the US must engage with multiple partners to pursue common interests.
“We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan, and that’s our job — to find as many countries as we can work with on things of common interest,” Rubio said. “The Indians are very mature when it comes to diplomacy. They have relationships with countries we don’t, and we have some they don’t. That’s part of a mature, pragmatic foreign policy,” he added.
Rubio emphasised that the growing engagement with Pakistan does not come at the expense of Washington’s ‘deep, historic, and important’ friendship with India. He described both relationships as vital to maintaining regional stability and advancing US strategic interests in South Asia.
