Pakistan, US Forces Strengthen Defense Partnership Through Exercise Inspired Gambit

The United States has described the joint exercise Inspired Gambit with Pakistan as a new dimension in bilateral defense relations. According to a statement released on the official X account of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), US and Pakistani troops completed their training this week at the National Counterterrorism Center in Pabbi.

This joint exercise focused on infantry skills, advanced tactics, and counterterrorism operations. US Central Command noted that the engagement further strengthened mutual trust, coordination, and practical cooperation between the forces of the two countries.

This week, U.S. and Pakistan Army Soldiers completed training at Pakistan’s National Counter-Terrorism Center during Exercise Inspired Gambit, which focused on combined infantry skills and tactics, and counterterrorism operations. Training exercises like this between the U.S. and… pic.twitter.com/z8eZNvPKLS

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 16, 2026

The Inspired Gambit 2026 exercise was held from January 8 to 16, 2026, with the two-week program focusing primarily on counterterrorism. This event marks the 13th in a series of bilateral training exercises that originally began in 1995. Ultimately, these joint US-Pakistan training sessions serve as a reflection of a long-standing and evolving defense relationship.