Pakistan Air Force on Sunday conducted a simple but impressive 'Culmination Ceremony' of its triennial command-level major exercise codenamed 'Saffron Bandit 2009-10', at an operational Air Base.
Presided over by Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, the ceremony was widely attended by the commanders from all tiers of PAF including participants from the entire field as well as selected units from Pak army.
Addressing the concluding session, Air Chief said that "PAF's combat training methodology has made a significant difference in our national counter terrorism effort, besides enhancing professional capabilities of our fighter aircrew. Active PAF participation has resulted in quick successes for Pak army with fewer casualties of our soldiers and importantly minimum collateral damage on the ground", he added.
He further said, "Our regional environment demands an ever vigilant role for PAF. Besides the traditional threat, we are required to deal with the menace of terrorism for quite sometime now. Regional volatility could lead to contingencies emanating in short span of time. Our preparedness and response therefore has to be timely, precise and effects-based", he added. He further emphasised that in the event of any misadventure in the form of a strike, PAF will respond immediately with full force.
The exercise that lasted for over seven months sequentially included participation from all fighter squadrons of PAF. The first ever formal inclusion of anti terrorist operations in the curriculum was the hallmark of this exercise. Another important aspect of this exercise was the successful streamlining of the joint force application concept in future battle scenarios.-PR
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