General Asim witnesses PAF multinational exercise

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir Thursday visited an operational air base of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to witness the ongoing multinational exercise Indus Shield-2024.

The COAS was received by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf was also present on the occasion.

Exercise Indus Shield-2024 is the biggest multinational exercise of the region that is witnessing participation from 24 air forces converging to foster interoperability and training through state-of-the-art facilities embodying the exercise motto: ‘Stronger When Together’.

The COAS expressed his satisfaction over the PAF combat readiness and the progress made through various modernisation and up-gradation programmes. Later, he witnessed exercise operations, static display of various niche and disruptive technologies where he was briefed on the modernisation efforts of PAF to stay abreast with contemporary security challenges, which was later followed by an enthralling aerial display by PAF fighter jets.

The COAS also interacted with the aircrew and appreciated the resolve of PAF personnel to safeguard the aerial frontiers of Pakistan. He emphasized on the critical role of inter-service collaboration, which is essential for achieving operational success.

The Chief of Air Staff expressed his gratitude for the visit of COAS, reinforcing the commitment to enhance cooperation between the army and air force in both training and operational contexts. The air chief apprised the COAS of modernisation and indigenisation drive being carried out by the PAF through induction of state-of-the-art weapon systems.

Speaking on the occasion, the air chief highlighted that the ongoing exercise Indus Shield-2024 will go a long way in bolstering interoperability amongst the participating nations and will train their air and ground crews to face contemporary warfare challenges.