ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan launched a joint military exercise this week in the northern Pakistani city of Risalpur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Pakistan army’s media wing said on Friday, part of a longstanding defense cooperation deal between the two countries.
Royal Saudi land forces arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday and the exercise is expected to conclude on May 3, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The Pakistan army’s media wing said a detailed press statement would be issued once the military exercise was completed.
The exercise, called Kaseh 2, took place at Pakistan’s military college of engineering and is the second phase of a joint 2017 military drill held in the Tabuk region in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
Director General of the Pakistan army’s department of engineering, Maj. Gen. Muhammad Ajmal Iqbal, welcomed Saudi Arabia’s participation and said he looked forward to more joint exercises in the future.
Commander of the Saudi army’s Engineers Battalion 7th brigade, Col. Saeed bin Ayed Al-Qahtani, thanked the Pakistani side for their hospitality and said the exercise aimed to improve combat capabilities of both countries.
“Everyone seeks to make this exercise a success and use every opportunity to achieve the aspirations of the military leaderships,” he said.
Joint military relations between the two countries expanded with the mutual cooperation program of 1967 under which Pakistan provides large-scale combined military training to Saudi armed forces. A 1982 protocol agreement widened the scope of military cooperation to include cooperation in defense production and science and technology.
Since then, both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have continued sharing military and intelligence data under a number of joint drills between their armies, navies and airforces.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia team up for ‘Kaseh 2’ military exercise
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia team up for ‘Kaseh 2’ military exercise
- Exercise is the second phase of a 2017 drill held in Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a mutual defense cooperation pact in 1967
Pakistan warns of landslides, avalanches in northwest amid snowfall forecast
- Provincial authority warns snowfall may cause road closures, slippery conditions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa districts in next 24 hours
- Disaster management authority urges people to exercise caution, avoid unnecessary traveling during next 24 hours in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
PESHAWAR: Pakistan has warned of landslides and avalanches in the hilly areas of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in the next 24 hours, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Monday, advising the public to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel.
In a weather forecast issued by the PDMA KP, the authority warned that snowfall may cause road closure and slippery conditions in the northwestern Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Buner, Malakand, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla and Galliyat districts in the next 24 hours.
“Possibility of landslides/avalanches in hilly areas of the province during the [24 hours] period,” PDMA said.
“Travelers and tourists are advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travel during the period.”
It also warned of foggy conditions in patches at scattered places over Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Charsadda Swabi and D.I. Khan districts during late nights and early mornings in northwestern Pakistan.
Pakistan, which contributes less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, is recognized among countries that are most vulnerable to climate change.
Scientists say rising temperatures are making South Asia’s monsoon rains more erratic and intense, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous regions such as KP and northern Gilgit-Baltistan.
Authorities in the past have urged people to avoid northern areas or exercise caution in travel when weather conditions are expected to deteriorate in winter season.
At least 21 people, including nine children, died in freezing temperatures after being stuck in their vehicles in the Pakistani hill station of Murree in January 2022 when the roads became impassable.
