RAWALPINDI: A contingent of Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force participated for the first time since 2009 in multinational exercise ‘Bright Star 2021’ at Mohamed Naguib Military Base, Egypt.

The closing ceremony of the exercise was held at the base and troops from Egypt, United States, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Cyprus, Iraq, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco, Kenya, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Greece, Kuwait, UAE, Tunisia, Nigeria, Tanzania and France participated in it, says an ISPR press release on Sunday.

The two-week-long exercise focused on the capability to counter regional hybrid threats, strengthen regional stability by fostering combined force interoperability, joint force integration and enhanced maritime security operations.

Egyptian Minister of Defence and Commander-in-Chief Gen Mohamed Zaki and military officials from 20 countries witnessed the final phase of joint training that included live fire of different weapons from aircraft, helicopters and tanks. The Bright Star exercise is held regularly since 1980.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2021