ISLAMABAD: A joint air exercise Shaheen-VI, which commenced last week at Koral Air Base, in currently underway in China. A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) contingent comprising combat pilots, air defence controllers and technical ground crew is participating in the bilateral exercise. PAF’s JF-17 Thunder, Mirage, F-7PG and ZDK aircrafts and People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) J-8, J-11, JH-7 and KJ-200 AWACS aircraft are taking part in the air exercise. According to a statement, the exercise will strengthen the working relationship between both the air forces and help in learning from each other experiences. The PAF regularly undertakes air exercises with air forces of friendly countries. Shaheen-VI is the sixth in the series of the joint air exercises with PLAAF, which is conducted each year in both countries on alternate basis. Earlier, a PLAAF contingent participated in a joint air exercise Shaheen-V, which was conducted in Pakistan last year.The exercises will run until September 27. Published in Daily Times, September 15th 2017.