Pakistan Air Force launches 14-nation Indus Shield 2023 exercise with Middle Eastern participation

Aviation experts from 14 countries pose for a photograph during the inauguration ceremony of the Indus Shield air exercise in Pakistan on October 8, 2023. (APP)

• The exercise seeks to deepen mutual understanding between the participating contingents and promote interoperability
• A top air force official says it will help participants achieve common objectives in the face of evolving air warfare dynamics

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) launched Indus Shield 2023, a 14-nation exercise, at one of its operational bases in the country on Sunday, bring together aviation experts from several Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
The Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force periodically organize and participate in international exercises to strengthen defense ties with other countries.
Such events provide an opportunity to the country’s military to display its capabilities and learn from the experiences and techniques of other nations.
Inaugurating the event as chief guest, Air Vice Marshal Tariq Mehmood Ghazi emphasized its significance in achieving common objectives in the face of evolving dynamics of air warfare.
“The exercise not only offers a unique opportunity for participating air forces to bring their unparalleled skills and operational capabilities to the spotlight, but will also deepen mutual understanding between the participating contingents to promote interoperability,” the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency said in a report.
“In addition, the exercise offers an invaluable learning experience of aerial warfare employment tactics to the air and ground crew through simulation of real-time war scenarios and varied combat missions,” it added.
Apart from Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar, other nations participating in the event include Turkiye, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Morocco, Uzbekistan, China and Hungary.