ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif witnessed a multinational military exercise being held in Turkey.

The COAS witnessed the exercise in two sittings, one on Monday night and the other on Tuesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a press release. He was welcomed by Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen Hulusi Akar upon his arrival at the exercise area.

The Turkish president and the defence minister also witnessed the exercise being attended by troops from Turkey, the United States, Britain, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Azerbaijan and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting with Gen Raheel and thanked him for Pakistan’s participation in the exercise as well as his personal presence on the occasion. He said the exercise would further enhance military ties between Pakistan and Turkey.

The Turkish president praised Pakistan Army’s success in the Zarb-i-Azb operation against militants and its contribution to regional peace and stability.

Gen Raheel praised the Turkish armed forces for conducting the joint military exercise of such a magnitude and scope.

The Pakistan Army had over the past three years conducted 52 joint military exercises, both in the country and abroad, with partner countries.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2016