Military drill: China sends fighter jets, troops to Pakistan air base near India border

PLAAF’s Y20 Heavy lift airplane descending into Pakistan near the Bholari Airbase. (Image: According to Twitter/ @detresfa)

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China on December 7 announced that it has sent fighter jets and troops to a Pakistani air base near its border with India along Gujarat. The warplanes that have been dispatched will be taking part in the upcoming bilateral military exercise aimed at improving Pakistan and China’s 'actual combat training', reported Chinamil.com.

The PLA said in a statement that “the Chinese air force’s troops set off on December 7 for the Pakistani Air Force’s air base in Bholari at Thatta District in Sindh, northeast of Pakistan’s Karachi to participate in the China-Pakistan Joint Air Force Exercise Shaheen (Eagle) – IX”.

It added that the drill would strengthen China-Pakistan military-to-military relationships and “improve the actual-combat training level of the two sides”.

Though the Chinese military did not reveal details of the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) deployment at the latest edition of Shaheen-IX, it said that the joint air force exercise will end in late December.

According to Twitter user @detresfa, who is a satellite imagery expert, PLAAF’s Y20 Heavy lift airplane was seen descending into Pakistan near the Bholari Airbase.

Earlier today, a #China AirForce (PLAAF) Y20 Heavy lift plane was spotted descending into #Pakistan near Bholari Airbase, along with it was spotted another unknown aircraft (suspected PLAAF) following the same route

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Aircraft are suspected to be in support of a joint exercise pic.twitter.com/W4r0w5xTzw

— d-atis (@detresfa_) December 7, 2020