Joint int'l air drill of Pakistan and China ‘Shaheen VII’ kicks off

KARACHI: Pakistan and China’s Joint International Air Drill ‘Shaheen VII’ has kicked-off, at an operational base of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Sunday, ARY News reported.

According to details shared by PAF spokesperson, a Chinese Air Force contingent has arrived in Pakistan which includes pilots and air defense controllers.

Apart from technical crew, fighter, bomber and early warning AWACS airplanes of Chinese Air Force are taking part in the drill.

It is the seventh air exercise in the series of joint air drills with Chinese Airforce. Shaheen VI was held at a Chinese airbase last year, said PAF spokesperson.

Yesterday, Pakistani and Russian navies participated in a joint exercise in the northern Arabian Sea, a spokesman of Pakistan Navy had said.

The two ships of Russian Navy had also visited Karachi Port and participated in the joint Pak-Russian naval anti-piracy drills called Arabian Monsoon-2018.

Russian Northern Fleet’s Severomorsk Anti-Submarine Ship also participated in the active phase of the drills in northern Arabian Sea with Pakistan Navy.

The Russian ships were warmly welcomed while on the port call of Karachi, a Pakistan Navy spokesman informed.

Russian Navy officers had called on the field commander of Pakistan Navy, spokesman said. They also paid respects at the mausoleum of the father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam and laid floral wreath.