Pak-Saudi Military Drill Ends

A three-week long joint exercise between Royal Saudi Land Forces and the Pakistan Army ended recently. The joint exercise (Al–Samsaam IV), held near Jhelum was to harness relationship and exchange information through a well planned training program in three weeks

The exercises focused on the low intensity conflict operations involving collective training at the unit and brigade level.

The military exercise was planned for exchanging experience and information, including military tactics. The exercise was aimed at improving bilateral relations between the two militaries through group training. The Kingdom and Pakistan have close brotherly ties. Such relationship has strengthened over the years and both countries enjoy each other in a deep rooted cooperation.

Prince Khaled Bin Bandar, Commander of the Royal Saudi Land Forces, and Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, observed this exercise on the 6th of October.

One battalion each from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia took part in the exercise in which Pakistan Air Force F–7 aircraft, Cobra Gunship helicopters and MI–17 helicopters participated.

The troops from both sides took part in many exercises including para–jumping. “Al–Samsaam” series has been introduced on a biennial basis since 2004. The first two exercises of the series were applied in Pakistan in 2004 and 2006. Al–Samsaam-111 was held in Saudi–Arabia in 2009.

The ending ceremony was in attendance by Abdul Aziz Bin Ibrahim Al- Ghadeer, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, and Commodore Abdullah Bin Saeed Al–Ghandi, Military Attaché in Pakistan.