ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan-China Joint International Air Exercise ‘Shaheen-VII,’ aimed at maximizing the combat readiness of both countries' air forces, concluded at an operational air base of the Pakistan Air Force on Friday.
“The main objective of the exercise was to maximize the combat readiness of the air forces by providing a realistic training environment in different air combat scenarios,” the Pakistan Air Force said in statement available with Arab News.
“PAF has been participating in foreign exercises with leading and friendly Air Forces of the world. These exercises have helped in giving invaluable experience to the PAF combat crew and enhancing their professional competence,” the statement added.
The 'Shaheen-VII' joint air exercise began on December 3 this year and culminated on Friday with a special ceremony at an operational airbase of the Pakistan Air Force. Air Marshal Muhammad Haseeb Paracha, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Operations), was the chief guest at the closing ceremony while Major General Chen Wenrong, Defence Attaché from the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China, was also present.
High ranking officials of both countries were given a comprehensive de-brief on the exercise. PAF war veterans, diplomats from the Chinese embassy, and retired and senior serving officers also attended the ceremony, PAF said.
Pakistan-China joint air exercise concludes in Karachi
Pakistan-China joint air exercise concludes in Karachi
- Pakistan airforce says exercise will maximize combat readiness
- 'Shaheen-VII' joint air exercise began on Dec 3 this year
Federal cabinet authorized joining Gaza Board of Peace, says Pakistan PM
- Shehbaz Sharif, along with various world leaders, signed Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ charter this week in Davos
- The global body led by US President Trump seeks to end conflicts worldwide, including the one in Gaza
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said this week that the federal cabinet gave the green signal for Pakistan to join US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace (BoP) body after holding consultations on the matter.
Sharif, along with the representatives of 18 other countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Türkiye, Indonesia, Qatar and others, signed the BoP’s charter with Trump during the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) summit in Davos on Thursday.
The Board brings together participating states and stakeholders seeking to support dialogue, stability and peace-related initiatives linked to the ongoing crisis in Gaza. However, Pakistani opposition parties have criticized the government for not holding consultations before joining the Trump-led initiative.
“Pakistan received the invitation for the Board of Peace on which the cabinet, after consultations, gave the authorization to join,” Sharif told reporters outside the Pakistan High Commission in London on Saturday.
He said the government had decided to join the global body with the hope that it would establish peace in Gaza and aid in the territory’s reconstruction.
The same was said by Sharif’s adviser on political and public affairs, Rana Sanaullah, while he spoke to a private news channel on Saturday.
Sanaullah said the cabinet held discussions on whether the government should join the BoP and endorsed the move to do so.
“The development happened in the past week to 10 days,” Sanaullah told private news channel Geo News.
“Based on this, the government signed after consultations with the cabinet. I know this, I was in that consultation.”
Trump has shared few details about the BoP, a body of world leaders formed under his leadership to end global conflicts including the one in Gaza.
Chaired by Trump, the board would include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British prime minister Tony Blair and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
