Pakistan and Qatar participate in joint aerial exercise Zilzal II to promote interoperability

In this handout photograph, taken and released by the Directorate General Public Relations Pakistan Air Force, contingents from Pakistan Air Force and Qatar Emiri Air Force pose for a group photo during the opening ceremony of joint aerial exercise Zilzal II in Qatar on January 10, 2024. (Photo courtesy: PAF)
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  • Pakistan’s J-10C will compete with Eurofighter jets of Qatar’s air force in first-ever face-off in an aerial exercise
  • Zilzal II seeks to simulate a near-realistic aerial warfare scenario to assess the operational readiness of both forces

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is poised to conduct Zilzal II, a joint aerial exercise with Qatar’s Emiri Air Force in the Arab state, aimed at ensuring interoperability between the two allied nations and capitalizing on opportunities for shared professional learning, said a PAF statement released on Wednesday.

The inaugural edition of Zilzal, conducted in 2020, focused on strengthening the existing defense partnership between the two countries. Zilzal II, building on this foundation, seeks to simulate a near-realistic aerial warfare scenario, providing a crucial opportunity for the air forces of the two countries to assess their operational readiness in real time.

“During the exercise, PAF’s newly inducted state-of-the-art J-10C fighter aircraft will flex its muscles against Eurofighter jets of the Qatar Emiri Air Force in their first-ever face-off in an aerial exercise,” the official statement informed, while describing the successful induction and operationalization of J-10C fighter jets and their participation in international exercises in a short span as a “remarkable achievement.”

The statement added that Zilzal II would serve as a platform to foster greater understanding, cooperation and friendship between the Pakistan Air Force and Qatar’s Emiri Air Force, contributing to regional stability and security.