SCO 2018: After war games, India and Pakistani troops bond over Punjabi music

The media coverage over SCO 2018 and the interaction between Indian and Pakistani troops has been overwhelming to say the least, and the latest report just highlights how the two sides bonded over Punjabi music.

On Wednesday night, India hosted the other nations to showcase its culture. "Military commanders leading each of the countries, including those of Pakistan, China and host Russia, were welcomed with a traditional red ‘tilak’ on their forehead and traditional red-coloured Rajasthani ‘pagris’," a Tribune report said

However, the highlight of the evening was Indian and Pakistani dancing to Punjabi music.

However, as The Tribune reported, "it does not mean the two nuclear-armed countries, which have fought four wars against each other and have a running dispute in Jammu and Kashmir, have turned “friends”."

Earlier, The bonhomie promised for Indian and Pakistani troops during the ongoing multi-nation military exercise in Russia has turned to be a dampener as it now turns out that they are not teamed together in the war games.

The exercise of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was tipped as a special one as it would bring together for the first-time troops from armies of India, Pakistan and China as part of a military build-up.

So, while the Pakistanis and the Chinese that are incidentally forging military and strategic ties are carrying out the war games together, India and Russia are part of a separate group training and sharing new tactics against terrorism and radicalisation in an urban scenario.