Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) General Ahsan Saleem Hayat on Monday visited exercise area in Southern Punjab and witnessed ongoing Pak-Saudi Joint Exercise Al-SAMSAAM-1. It is for the first time that Saudi land forces are jointly participating with Pakistani troops in a mechanised warfare exercise. The contingent from Saudi Arabia comprises of six Officers, 13 Junior Commissioned Officers and 127 other Ranks.
Vice Chief of Army Staff accompanied by Chief of Operations Saudi Land Forces Major General Ali Zaid Khawaji, Lieutenant General Syed Perwez Shahid, Corps Commander Lieutenant General Zarrar Azim, Inspector General Training and Evaluation and other senior officers of both the armies witnessed the conduct of exercise.
VCOAS went around the exercise area and met troops of both the countries participating in the exercise. He appreciated the hard work, commitment and efficiency displayed by them.
He appreciated the professional acumen demonstrated by the troops and hoped such exercises would prove mutually beneficial for both the armies.
Highlighting the existing brotherly ties between two countries, he said that there was a need to enhance the scope and for a similar exercise in the future as well.
Saudi Major General Ali Zaid Khawaji appreciated the joint training standard displayed by the troops participating in the exercise and said that such interaction would continue in future as well.
Pak-Saudi military co-operation was deep rooted and encompasses many facets. It covers officers exchange programme, training at each other facilities and mutual purchase of defence equipment. The joint exercise is a physical manifestation of such co-operation at the level of rank and file in which Saudi troops displayed professionalism and spirited participation.