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Pakistan air force launches exercise

B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan air force (PAF) on Sunday launched the largest exercise in 10 years titled Highmark 2005, which would continue for a month.

According to an official statement, F-16, Mirage, F-7, avionics, weapon systems, radars along with manpower skills would be put on test in this exercise held almost across the nation.

President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will watch the manoeuvres for which the army and navy are extending support.

The exercise is designed to validate some of the PAF's operational concepts involving two opposing forces — Blueland and Foxland — each employed in both offensive and defensive operations, the statement said.

Iranian envoy's visit

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani is arriving here on Monday for consultations and to solicit Islamabad's support against possible U.N. Security Council sanctions that Teheran faces over its controversial nuclear programme.

During his two-day visit, he will call on Gen. Musharraf and Mr. Aziz. He will also hold delegation-level talks with Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri.

This is the first high-level visit from Teheran after the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad-led Government was installed.

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