A contingent of People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) arrived in Pakistan on Sunday to participate in Pak-China Joint International Air Exercise ‘Shaheen-VII’ being held at an operational air base of the Pakistan Air Force. The PLAAF contingent comprises combat pilots, air defence controllers and technical ground crew along with fighter jets, bombers and early warning AWACS planes. According to a statement, the exercise will help enhance close relations between the two countries in general and develop mechanism for interoperability of both air forces in particular. The Pakistan Air Force regularly undertakes exercises with air forces of friendly countries. Shaheen-VII is the seventh in the series of joint air exercises with the PLAAF, which is conducted each year in both countries on alternative basis. A PAF contingent had participated in Shaheen-VI conducted in China last year. Published in Daily Times, December 3rd 2018.