ISLAMABAD: As part of his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan began his trip from Madinah, following which he was expected to lead the country’s delegation at a key investment conference in Riyadh on Tuesday.
PM Khan and his coterie of officials arrived in Madinah on Monday night where they were received by Governor Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The group prayed together at the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah before heading to Riyadh to attend the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umar, Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Abdur Razak Dawood are part of the delegation accompanying the prime minister.
In a statement released earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said that PM Khan was visiting the Kingdom on the special invitation of King Salman to participate in the prestigious business conference from October 23 to 25. Also known as “Davos in the desert”, the event is expected to host leading businesspersons, investors, corporate giants, representatives of the hi-tech industry and major media outlets on one platform.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan’s participation in the first day of the conference is aimed at projecting Pakistan’s economic and investment potential and his vision for the country in the five years to come,” the statement added.
“The conference provides an opportunity to interact with important business leaders who are interested in investing in Pakistan.”
As part of his visit, PM Khan is also expected to call upon King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman.
The FII conference is now an annual feature in Saudi Arabia. It was held for the first time last year and witnessed the participation of 3,800 people from 90 countries. This year’s conference is also likely to attract a large number of leading figures.
“The prime minister’s participation in the conference signifies our solidarity with the Kingdom in its efforts to become an emerging hub of international business and investment,” the statement concluded.
PM Khan arrives in Madina in first leg of visit
PM Khan arrives in Madina in first leg of visit
- Khan will attend the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh
- PM to interact with important business leaders at the conference
Pakistan Air Force conducts ‘Exercise Golden Eagle’ to test combat readiness, agility
- The exercise follows an intense, four-day Pakistan-India military conflict in May 2025
- It focused on AI-enabled operations integrating disruptive technologies, military says
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has conducted “Exercise Golden Eagle” that successfully validated its combat readiness and operational agility through synchronized employment of the PAF’s complete combat potential, the Pakistani military said on Tuesday.
It comes months after Pakistan’s four-day military conflict with India in May, with Islamabad claiming victory in the standoff after the PAF claimed to have shot down at least six Indian fighter aircraft, including the French-made Rafale. New Delhi acknowledged some losses but did not specify a number.
The exercise was conducted on a Two-Force construct, focusing on AI-enabled, net-centric operations while integrating indigenous niche, disruptive and smart technologies in line with evolving regional security dynamics, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
Operating within a robust Integrated Air Defense System, friendly forces shaped the battlespace through seamless fusion of kinetic operations with cyber, space and electro-magnetic spectrum operations.
“The kinetic phase featured First-Shoot, First-Kill swing-role combat aircraft equipped with long-range BVR air-to-air missiles, extended-range stand-off weapons and precision strike capabilities, supported by Airborne Early Warning & Control platforms and Air-to-Air Refuelers,” the ISPR said in a statement.
“A key highlight of the exercise was Manned–Unmanned Teaming, with deep-reach killer drones and loitering munitions operating in a highly contested, congested and degraded environment, validating PAF’s capability to conduct high-tempo operations in modern warfare.”
In recent months, many countries have stepped up defense engagement with Pakistan, while delegations from multiple nations have proposed learning from the PAF’s multi-domain air warfare capabilities that officials say were successfully employed during the May conflict.
“The successful conduct of Exercise Golden Eagle reaffirms Pakistan Air Force’s unwavering commitment to maintaining a high state of operational preparedness, leveraging indigenous innovation and effectively countering emerging and future security challenges,” the ISPR added.
