PAF fighter planes’ show of strength during exercise ‘Highmark’

The defenders of our skies, in a state of constant readiness, Alhamdolillah. Our motorways are our runways. #PAF pic.twitter.com/dAuEcVDOWL

— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) September 22, 2016

The PAF exercises came at a time when tension between Pakistan and India – two nuclear-armed and not-so-friendly neighbours – were already running high following a recent attack on an Indian army base held Kashmir on Sunday.

According to initial details of the military exercise, Mairaj and F-16 planes of the PAF did successful take-offs and landings on varying sections of the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway M1 and Lahore-Islamabad Motorway M2 on Wednesday and today.

More details about the exercise will be released soon; however, officials said that the military drill was solely aimed at evaluating Pakistan’s preparedness during atypical circumstances.

They said ‘Highmark’ exercise – one of the largest and crucial undertakings by the PAF – held every five years after several months of advance preparation.

Official announcements were made on Wednesday regarding the closure of airspace over the country’s northern belt and the M1 and M2 motorways at multiple points where the PAF military exercise was being conducted.