China is taking pains to reassure Pakistan that its recent military exercise with India in Indian-administered Kashmir doesn't mean their close military ties are in jeopardy.

In an unusual move, China publicly said the drill in Eastern Ladakh last Oct. 19 codenamed "Sino India Cooperation 2016" wasn't directed against any "third country," an oblique reference to Pakistan.

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The exercise was the second under Sino India Cooperation 2016. The first was held last February 7 in the Chushul-Moldo area, also in Ladakh.

China described the Oct. 19 exercise as a "normal exchange." The exercise, however, was the first-ever Sino-Indian joint military exercise in eastern Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir.

"I would like to point out that this activity is simply a normal exchange between the frontier troops of China and India to properly deal with border affairs," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying about the Oct. 19 drill.

"It does not target any third country nor have anything to do with China's position on the Kashmir issue."

"On October 19, border troops of the two countries jointly held a small routine tactical exercise in the Chushul region of the western section of the China-India border close to the Line of Actual Control," she said.

Hua said China and India also held a similar exercise in this region in February. She noted the recent exercise focused on "humanitarian assistance and disaster relief under a scenario of earthquakes in the border area, with a purpose to enhance exchanges and cooperation between the two troops and better safeguard peace and tranquility of the border area."

The Indian Army also said the same thing.

"During the day long exercise on Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) a fictitious situation of earthquake striking an Indian Border village was painted. Thereafter joint teams carried out rescue operations, evacuation and rendering of medical assistance," said a statement from the Army.

The Army said the exercise was held in the area of the Border Personnel Meeting Hut at Chushul Garrison of Eastern Ladakh with the Chinese troops of the Moldo Garrison.

The Oct. 19 exercise was part of the ongoing initiative to enhance interaction and cooperation between the two nations under the provision of Border Defense Cooperation Agreement of 2013.

The Indian Army personnel at the exercise were led by Brigadier RS Raman while those from the People's Liberation Army were under Senior Colonel Fan Jun.

The Indian Army said the exercise "was a great success and has not only refined the drills to provide succor to the border population in case of natural calamity but has also increased the level of trust and cooperation between the two border guarding forces along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh."

Tagschina, India, Pakistan, Sino India Cooperation 2016, Hua Chunying, China-India border, Line of Actual Control