Experimental and theoretical study is given to the coupling of pulsed radiation in two adjacent end pump regions of the Nd:YAG solid-state active element in the passively Q-switched Cr:YAG laser. The two-channel laser generates a pair of short pulses with a fixed time delay of a few nanoseconds to 1 μs. The main factors affecting the delay time and spatial radiation profiles are experimentally found. A numerical model of pulsed lasing kinetics in this system is developed, and mechanisms for radiation coupling in the channels are determined. Power scaling in pulsed laser systems, synchronization of pulsed lasing in the submicrosecond duration range, generation of short intense pulse packets, and formation of the temporal envelope of a short laser pulse are discussed.