Military might: China stages joint exercises with Pakistan

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• The drill was held in the remote Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
• Chinese and Pakistani pilots jointly flew the J-11BS
• The exercise reiterated the close military ties between the two all weather allies

BEIJING, China - In a show of military might, Chinese and Pakistani forces staged joint air drills in the remote Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Pilots from both the countries jointly flew the J-11BS, one of China’s third generation fighters, during the drill.

In a first, a senior Pakistani Air Force officer flew a sortie in one of China’s new fighter jets this week, making him the first from his country to do so.

The exercises reiterated the close military ties between the two “all weather” allies.

During the exercise, named Shaheen-VI, the head of PAF’s Southern Air Command, Air Vice Marshal Haseeb Paracha, flew in the J-11BS, which is one of China’s third-generation fighters.

On Thursday, Paracha was in China to participate in the Shaheen VI drill, which was first held in 2011. 

Between September 5-25, the exercise was held in the remote Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), was described as an anti-terror drill.

A People’s Liberation Army website said in a statement, “The air vice marshal was accompanied by Xin Xin, a vice-chief of staff of the PLA Air Force. This marks the first time that a Pakistani top military official has flown in China’s new fighter jet. The Chinese warplane performed acrobatic manoeuvres during the flight, drawing praise from Haseeb.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s official Geo News said, “The PAF contingent, comprising combat pilots, air defence controllers and technical ground crew, is participating in the exercise, during which the contingents from both sides demonstrated mutual trust by sitting in the same fighters.”

Adding, “The previous drills only provided the experience of sitting in the same fighter instead of cooperating in fighting.”

The exercise this time featured China’s J-11 fighters, JH-7 fighter-bombers, KJ-200 AWACS aircraft and ground forces, including surface-to-air missile and radar units. 

The PAF sent its JF-17 Thunder jets and early warning aircraft.

The report also added, “During the joint training starting from September 7, different kinds of aircraft from the two air forces such as Chinese J-11 fighter jets, JH-7 fighter-bombers, KJ-200 AWACS aircraft and Pakistani JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and early warning aircraft participated in drills of air-to-air combat, close air support operation, air-to-ground attack and confrontational operation involving multiple arms of the air force.”

Lt Gen Zhan Houshun, air force commander under the PLA Western Theatre Command, which oversees the borders with India said in a statement, “The Shaheen-VI joint air training exercise, especially the anti-terrorism training jointly held by the air forces of China and Pakistan, will certainly be a powerful deterrent to terrorist forces, and conducive to safeguarding national security and people’s well-being of the two countries. The drills maintain national security and protects people of the two countries.”

At a news briefing, for the first time, defense ministry officials released a video of Chinese and Pakistani pilots jointly flying warplanes.

Addressing the briefing, Col Wu Qian said that the Shaheen-VI exercise was marked by several firsts. 

He added, “Speaking of Pakistan, the first word that comes to my mind is ‘Iron Pak.’”

Wu added that this year’s exercise was unique as the two sides conducted “confrontation training” at night in China and carried out close support operations for the first time.

Further, for the first time, the two sides organised combat target practice backed by naval aviation and special operations units of airborne troops. 

He added, “There are more forces and more elements in this year’s joint training exercise compared with previous ones.”

China recently designated Jaish-e Mohammad as a terror organization after repeatedly blocking India's efforts for a ban on the terror chief at the UN. 

However, days later, it reassured Pakistan of its continued support and said there has been "no change in Chinese policy regarding Pakistan.”

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