ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's army chief, General Asim Munir, on Thursday witnessed the ongoing Indus Shield air exercise at one of the country's operational air bases, where he lauded the air warriors for their prowess in aerial combat, the Pakistani military said.
The exercise, aimed at consolidating modern concepts of aerial warfare, fostering mutual cooperation and enhancing interoperability, is being participated in by Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Morocco, Uzbekistan, China and Hungary.
Upon arrival, the army chief was received by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, and introduced to foreign dignitaries and principal staff officers of the PAF. Air chiefs of Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Hungary were also among the distinguished guests
Addressing the participants, Gen Munir highlighted the importance of multinational air exercises in pursuit of common objectives amid the ever-evolving dynamics of air warfare, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military's media wing.
"He lauded the professionalism of the exercise participants and extended heartfelt appreciation to the Air Power Centre of Excellence for its state-of-the-art facilities and instrumental role in orchestrating such largescale air exercise," the ISPR said in a statement.
"General Syed Asim Munir acknowledged that the Centre's expertise and dedication have contributed to the development of highly skilled and proficient air warriors, who are ready to meet the challenges of modern warfare."
He reiterated his commitment to support the vision of the Pakistani air chief to incorporate smart inductions, cutting-edge niche technologies in the domains of artificial intelligence, information technology, space and specialized innovations.
Organized by the PAF, Indus Shield aims to bolster regional security by fostering cooperation among allied nations. The exercise serves as a platform for enhancing operational capabilities, promoting mutual understanding and advancing the shared goals of peace and stability, in addition to showcasing the PAF's commitment to secure its skies through innovative and disruptive technologies.
Highlighting the significance of the exercise, Air Chief Sidhu said the exercise offered a unique opportunity to participating air forces to showcase their unparalleled skills and operational capabilities. He commended the dynamic role played by the PAF's Air Power Center of Excellence in successfully orchestrating the mega drill, ensuring meticulous supervision, conduct, analysis and assessment of aerial warfare missions.
"The successful execution of an aerial mission requires the effective utilization of all components of combat efficiency, including electronic warfare operations, force multipliers and support elements," he said.
"These crucial aspects are diligently taught at Air Power Center of Excellence, creating a cohesive impact on operational capabilities."
