ISLAMABAD – *Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chief ofArmy Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa arrived in Saudi Arabia on Sunday toinspect the exercises of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition(IMCTC).*

A high-level delegation, including the Pakistani Defense Minister KhurramDastgir, is accompanying Abbasi.

The delegation will also witness the second stage of the Joint Gulf Shieldmilitary exercise, which has started in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with24 countries to increase its defense cooperation with the leading worldnations.

Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz had extended invitations to leadingcountries to participate in the military exercise, including the UnitedStates, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Turkey.

The month-long exercise includes units from the army, navy, air force, andthe special forces.

The event will also be attended by a number of leaders from participatingcountries who will oversee military parades from various divisions.

Defense analysts believe that the military exercise is one of the largestin the region, both in terms of the number of participating countries andthe quality of its weapons.

Two ships of Pakistan Navy, PNS Tipu Sultan and PNS Himmat, along with aship of Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, PMSS Basol, also took part inthe joint military exercise.

Defense analysts noted that one of the most important aims of the exercisewas to activate the concept of joint military combat operations plans tocounter hostile acts that threaten the security and stability of the region.

Tens of thousands of soldiers from various Arab countries, Asia and Africaparticipated in the drills.