Why in News?

• As part of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) initiatives, SCO Peace Mission Exercise is conducted biennially for SCO member states.
• This will be a historic occasion due to the maiden participation of India post becoming a full member of the SCO in June 2017.

Significance of this exercise:

• This exercise marks a major milestone in the multilateral relations of SCO member nations.
• It will involve tactical level operations in an international counter insurgency or counter terrorism environment under SCO Charter.
• The joint exercise will strengthen mutual confidence, interoperability and enable sharing of best practices among armed forces of SCO Nations.
• It will be a landmark event in the history of SCO defence cooperation where Indian and Pakistani armed forces will participate together.