ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Tuesday Pakistan and China could further strengthen bilateral relations while hosting a luncheon in honor of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in attendance.
China and Pakistan have enjoyed a longstanding relationship, marked by strategic cooperation in trade, defense and infrastructure development. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a centerpiece of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, aims to transform the region’s economic geography by enhancing physical connectivity and positioning Pakistan as a key player in Central Asian trade through its sea routes.
As both nations embark on CPEC 2.0, the focus has shifted toward industrialization, socio-economic development and energy projects, reflecting their mutual quest to further expand bilateral cooperation and boost regional integration.
“During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral strategic cooperation in key sectors such as economy, investment and regional connectivity,” the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency said.
“The President said that friendship with China is a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and stressed the importance of exploring new avenues for collaboration,” it added. “He noted that there is still room to further expand Pakistan-China relations.”
The Chinese premier, along with ministers and government officials, arrived in Pakistan on Monday.
His visit comes at a time when Pakistan is hosting the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.
The Pakistani president expressed his heartfelt condolences over the killing of two Chinese nationals in a deadly suicide attack in Karachi in the lead-up to the summit, calling it a painful incident for the entire nation.
He maintained that enemies of Pakistan-China friendship were targeting Chinese citizens to damage bilateral relations and disrupt CPEC projects, adding they would not succeed in their plans.
He also assured the Chinese premier Pakistan was committed to ensuring that the perpetrators of the crime were brought to justice.
Pakistan president hosts luncheon for Chinese PM, calls for further strengthening of ties
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Pakistan president hosts luncheon for Chinese PM, calls for further strengthening of ties
- The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral strategic cooperation in key sectors
- President Zardari offered condolences over the killing of Chinese nationals in a suicide attack in Karachi
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.
