Saudis participate with Tornado fighter jets in Pakistani air drill

This photo released by Saudi Press Agency on March 28, 2021, RSAF jets participate in air drill organised by Pakistan Air Force. (SPA)
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Updated 02 April 2021
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Saudis participate with Tornado fighter jets in Pakistani air drill

  • Saudi air force contingent has around 180 officials, around 50 officials from Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain participating as observers 
  • Multinational air exercise ACES Meet 2021-1 officially kicked off in Pakistan on Monday at Operational Air Base of Pakistan Air Force 

ISLAMABAD: Wing Commander Hamad bin Muhammad AlHajjri of the Saudi Royal Air Force said in a video shared by the Kingdom’s defense ministry this week that Saudis were participating in an ongoing air drill in Pakistan with Tornado jets. 
The ACES Meet 2021-1, which kicked off on Monday, is an aerial exercise to maximize combat readiness of participating air forces through air-to-air combat training. The Pakistan Air Force, Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) and United States Air Force (USAF) are participating in the exercise.
“The activities of ACES 2021 have kicked off at Mushaf Air Base in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, with the participation of the Saudi Royal Air Forces , the US Air Force and the Pakistan Air Forces,” AlHajjri said in a video shared on Twitter by the Saudi ministry of defense on Wednesday.
“We have participated in these exercises also with a number of our Tornado aircraft. The exercises will be in several stages: including planning and executing air operations against air defense and based on different war scenarios.”

The RSAF contingent has around 180 officials, including pilots, aircraft engineers and technicians, and the USAF team comprises 70 members, while around 50 officials from Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain are in Pakistan as observers at the multinational air exercise.


Pakistan PM to join dialogue panel, meet global leaders at World Economic Forum

Updated 21 January 2026
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Pakistan PM to join dialogue panel, meet global leaders at World Economic Forum

  • Sharif to address Pakistan breakfast event and attend informal world leaders’ meeting in Davos
  • Deputy PM Ishaq Dar inaugurates Pakistan Pavilion to display start-ups and investment potential

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to step up Pakistan’s engagement at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, participating in a panel discussion on dialogue in an increasingly divided world and meeting international leaders and heads of global institutions.

Sharif flew to Switzerland a day earlier to attend the WEF’s 56th annual meeting.

The WEF brings together heads of state, senior government officials, business executives and leaders of international organizations to discuss global economic, political and social challenges.

“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will have a busy day in Davos today,” his office said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon.

“The prime minister will attend a Pakistan breakfast event and will also address the gathering,” it added. “He will take part in an informal meeting of world leaders this year themed ‘The Importance of Dialogue in a Divided Global Landscape.’”

On the sidelines of the WEF, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who is accompanying Sharif, inaugurated the Pathfinder Group’s Pakistan Pavilion, describing it as a platform to project Pakistan’s economic potential and the growing role of innovation-driven enterprises.

“He underscored the critical role of start-ups in advancing socio-economic development and driving innovation across diverse sectors,” the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that the government remained committed to supporting entrepreneurs, particularly youth-led ventures.

Pakistan’s participation at the WEF comes as Islamabad seeks to sustain recent economic stabilization and attract investment by engaging directly with policymakers, business leaders and international institutions at the annual gathering.