ISLAMABAD: The Senate Defence Committee, led by its Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed visited the PAF Base Sargodha for a briefing on the role of Pakistan Air Force on combating terrorism as well as witnessing the Pakistan-Turkey air defence exercise.

On arrival at the PAF Base, the Senate Defence Committee was received by Air Vice Marshal Jawad, the Air Officer Commanding and Commodore Amer, the Base Commander, according to press statement issued here on Tuesday.

The Senate Defence Committee was given a detailed briefing on the role of the Pakistan Air Force in protecting Pakistan's sovereignty and air defence, particularly the campaign against terrorism in Pakistan which has been personally spearheaded by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman. Senator Mushahid Hussain and other Senators lauded the role of the PAF praising its professionalism as well as its contribution to Pakistani national security particularly citing the 1965 war as well as the 1971 war.

Senator Mushahid Hussain said that the PAF Chiefs like Air Marshal Asghar Khan, Air Marshal Nur Khan and Air Chief Marshal Zulfiqar Ali Khan were role models in military leadership who built up the Pakistan Air Force over the years. They also praised the role of the Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman for leading from the front in the anti-terror campaign.

Speaking to the Turkish pilots who are participating in the Pakistan-Turkey joint military exercise, Senator Mushahid Hussain strongly condemned the 'despicable' act of terrorism in Turkey last week which resulted in several deaths and injuries and he said that "Pakistan and Turkey are partners in combating terrorism, which is a common enemy of humanity".

He also praised the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kamal Ataturk who had demonstrated courageous leadership in the fight against British imperialism and he said that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, on learning about the death of Ataturk in 1938, had declared a day of national mourning for the Muslims of the South Asian sub-Continent.

At the conclusion of the visit, souvenirs were exchanged between the two sides and the Senate Defence Committee witnessed the Pakistan-Turkey military exercise which showed solidarity between the two countries and their armed forces. Among those participating in the visit to Sargodha were Senator Farhatullah Babar, Senator Lt. Gen. (R) Salahuddin Tirmizi, Senator Brig. (R) John Kenneth Williams, Senator Hidayatullah, Senator Javed Abbasi and Senator Sehar Kamran.