Pakistani air chief, Saudi joint chiefs of staff discuss regional security, defense cooperation

Pakistan's Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu (L) poses for a photo with Major General Hamed Bin Rafei Al Amri, Director Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Saudi Armed Forces in Islamabad on October 17, 2022. (Pakistan Air Force)
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Updated 17 October 2022
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Pakistani air chief, Saudi joint chiefs of staff discuss regional security, defense cooperation

  • Al-Amri expressed his grief over devastation caused by recent floods in Pakistan 
  • Praises efforts of PAF personnel in supporting civil administration in relief activities 

ISLAMABAD: The Saudi joint chiefs of staff of the armed forces on Monday called on the Pakistan air chief and discussed regional security as well as bilateral and defense cooperation.

The Saudi military delegation was led by Major General Hamed Bin Rafei Al-Amri, Director Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Saudi Armed Forces, who met Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu.

“Al-Amri expressed his grief over the devastation caused by recent floods in Pakistan and offered sincere condolence to the families of the victims. He praised efforts of PAF (Pakistan Air Force) personnel for their support to civil administration in relief activities and rehabilitation process of the flood affectees,” a statement from PAF said.

The dignitary acknowledged PAF’s growing indigenous capability in the aviation industry and agreed to optimize existing ties between the two nations’ air forces, particularly in the training and operational domains.

The air chief shared the “broad contours of PAF’s modernization drive to achieve operational capability in the contemporary warfare in air, space and cyberspace domains as per the PAF’s operational construct and said that Pakistan Air Force is fully focused in acquisition and development of these technologies.”

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial relations, with over 2.5 million Pakistanis living in the kingdom, which is the largest contributor of remittances to the South Asian nation.


Pakistan expresses solidarity with Switzerland as ski resort explosion kills 40, injures 100

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Pakistan expresses solidarity with Switzerland as ski resort explosion kills 40, injures 100

  • Explosion occurred at crowded bar in upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve party
  • Swiss authorities say they are still investigating the cause of the explosion, which appears to be an accident

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed solidarity with Switzerland after an explosion at the bar of a ski resort in the country killed at least 40 people and injured 100. 

The explosion occurred at a crowded bar during a New Year’s Eve party in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana on Wednesday night, Swiss authorities said. The fire broke out at 1.30 a.m. (0030 GMT) in a bar called “Le Constellation” in southwestern Switzerland.

Swiss authorities say they are still investigating the cause of the blast, saying it appears to be an accident. 

“Deeply saddened to learn of the tragic fire incident at a ski resort in Switzerland on New Year night,” Sharif wrote on social media platform X. 

“Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives and pray for the early recovery of the injured. We stand in solidarity with the Swiss Government and the people of Switzerland at this difficult time.”

https://x.com/CMShehbaz/status/2006677928663462347

Frederic Gisler, the head of police of Valais canton, said patients had been dispatched to hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich. 

“Our count is about 100 injured, most seriously, and unfortunately tens of people are presumed dead,” he was quoted as saying by Reuters. 

Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said fireworks may have caused the explosion.

“It seems to have been an accident caused by a fire, by some explosion, by some firecracker thrown during New Year’s celebrations,” he told Italy’s Sky TG24 tv channel.