ISLAMABAD: Pak and China began their fifth joint air excercise ‘Shaheen-V, at an operational airbase of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Thursday. The contingent of People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) comprising combat pilots, air defence controllers and technical ground crew, besides a PAF contingent are participating in the excercise, said a PAF spokesperson. “The excercise will enhance relationship between the two countries in general, and develop mechanism for interoperability of both air forces in particular,” he said. Pakistan Air Force emphasises the combat training of its air and ground crew and regularly undertakes air excercises with air forces of friendly countries, he said, adding ‘Shaheen-V’ is the fifth in the series of joint air excercises, which is conducted each year in both countries on an alternate basis. The PAF spokesman said Pakistan and China enjoy very close relations spanning over six decades. The strategic partnership has manifested itself in the form of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), infrastructure development and routine joint military excercises, he added.