SARGODHA / PESHAWAR: Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa visited PAF Base Mushaf on Thursday and witnessed the ongoing multinational exercise ACES meet 2017 at the Air Power Centre of Excellence (ACE).

Other than Pakistan, contingents of Royal Saudi Air Force and Turkish Air Force are participating in the two-week long exercise started on Oct 16. Eight countries are participating in the exercise as observers.

The army chief was briefed on the ACE training facility and the scope of the exercise aimed at projecting mutual cooperation bet­ween the air forces and consolidating modern concepts, especially in domain of counterterrorism operations. He acknowledged PAF’s contribution and support in the fight against terrorism and hailed its operational readiness and professional expertise.

Speaking on the occasion, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman said the existing global security scenario coupled with changing dynamics of warfare demanded enhanced partnerships among nations and their armed forces.

Motor rally

The Pakistan Motor Rally 2017, organised by the army, reached South Waziristan on completion of its second segment on Thursday. The rally started from Khunjerab on Oct 21. Army Chief Gen Bajwa, along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, witnessed the rally and distributed prizes among best racers of the second segment.

The COAS appreciated the spirit of the participants and organisers to promote peaceful and soft image of Pakistan. Holding of such events in areas once affected by terrorism spoke for results of “our national sacrifices and efforts to bring back peace and normalcy”, he said.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2017