ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will be undertaking a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia from Wednesday on the invitation of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz.
The prime minister will witness the ongoing military exercises “Thunder of the North” described as the world’s biggest exercise.
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif and Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman are likely to accompany him. Armed forces from 20 countries, including Pakistan, are engaged in manoeuvres in northeastern Saudi Arabia.
They are displaying highest standard of the skills along with troops from other countries. Nawaz will meet with Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and other Royal dignitaries during his stay in the Kingdom.
The Saudi authorities had earlier stated that troops from Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Sudan were among those participating in the “Thunder of the North” exercise, which began last week and involves ground, air and naval forces.
Forces from the other five Gulf Arab states are also taking part in “one of the world’s most important military exercises based on the number of forces participating and the area of territory used,” the Saudi official news agency reported.
It said a major goal of the exercise was to improve training in responding to the threat posed by “terrorist groups.” Saudi Arabia has carried out air strikes against Daesh in Syria as part of a US-led coalition fighting the jihadists. The sources said Nawaz who will be proceeding to Riyadh with a brief entourage will also meet with the Pakistani troops.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/103055-Nawaz-to-witness-Saudi-military-exercises
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