Abbasi, King Hussein travel down the memory lanes

Islamabad: Visiting Jordanian King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein is a personal friend of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and interestingly their parents were also close friends way back in 80s.

Both the leaders have grown together, as they have common passion of flying and both are skillful pilots. They had an exchange of pleasantries and recalled their memories of the days when Shahid Abbasi’s father late Air Commodore Khaqan Abbasi served as Adviser of Royal Jordanian Air Force in Jordanian capital Amman.

These were the days when the then President General Muhammad Ziaul Haq was also associated with the service of defence of Jordan as Brigadier of Pakistan Army. Late King Hussein bin Talal, father of Jordanian Ibn-e-Al Hussein, happened to be a friend of late Commodore Khaqan Abbasi.

King Talal always flew his jet plane by himself even during his visit to other countries. The present king has inherited passion of flying from his father while Shahid Abbasi isn’t only an experienced pilot, but also had been training pilots 10 years ago.

Aviation has significant element in close ties of Pakistan and Jordan since Pakistan has acquired a fleet of US made F-16 multi-role fighter planes from Jordan. The sources told The News that when King entered Pakistan’s air space on Thursday, his plane was escorted by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 planes purchased from Jordan few years ago. The Jordanian king also witnessed maneuverings of Pakistan-made JF-17 Thunder multi-role planes.

The king was impressed by the performance of the planes over the Prime Minister House. The JF-17 Thunder planes dropped multi-colour shells in air while flying over Margalla Hills and descending to the Prime Minister House. The display was impressive and the visiting dignitary enjoyed and appreciated it.