The commander of Special Security Forces, Lt. Gen. Mufleh bin Salim Al-Otaibi, on Saturday launched the joint Saudi-Pakistani Shehab 2 military exercise, in the presence of the deputy commander of Special Security Forces, Major Gen. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al-Thamali, and a number of high-ranking Pakistani army officers, including the commander of the special operations school and a number of special operations officers.

The exercise involves counterterrorism training including hostage rescue by sting operations.

In its second version, the joint exercise stresses deepening relations between the two sides; skills enhancement and confidence building through the exchange of experiences; enhancement of cooperation; and planning training for the execution of counterterrorism operations in populated mountainous areas.

The spokesman of the Special Security Forces, Col. Mohammed Bin Abdullah Bin Fadhilah, said that the exercise is being conducted in the context of cooperation between the two countries in different military fields, especially in the area of counterterrorism in built-up and open areas, hostage rescue, and using the latest technology and techniques which contribute to defeating all forms of terrorism