Pak-Saudi counterterrorism training underway
ISLAMABAD/RIYADH: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s special military forces have been engaged since Nov. 25 in a joint counterterrorism training program at the Prince Naif Security City in Riyadh.
The joint exercise is called Al-Shehab 2, a twoweek program that continues till Dec. 10, said Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistan Army’s media wing.
A Pakistani contingent of 68 officers and soldiers of the country’s elite Special Services Group (SSG) are training alongside Saudi Arabia’s finest military troops and officers.
The Pak-Saudi exercise is a follow-up to Al-Shehab 1, held last year in Pakistan, and is focused on learning from each fighting force’s experiences in the counterterrorism field and on strengthening bilateral cooperation.
“Such exercises have symbolic value rather than any operational significance,” said retired Brig. Saad Muhammad to Arab News.
He pointed out that both countries enjoy a good relational bond in many areas apart from religion.
The retired army officer concluded: “It conveys a message that the two countries are close allies and in case any of the two countries face any security threat they will come to each other’s help. The exercise will ease joint operations should the need arise.”
Saudi Arabian and Jordanian armed forces started the military exercise “Sahab 2”in the Kingdom on Sunday, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The trainer, Brig. Safah bin Ibrahim Al-Raffdi, praised the participation of Jordan in the exercise and thanked the participants for their efforts in the planning and preparation stages for the preexercise.
Al-Raffdi said the exercise aims to enhance mutual cooperation and exchange of experiences between the two armed forces and to raise the level of training in defense against weapons of mass destruction.