Pakistan military exercises are military exercises conducted by the Pakistan Armed Forces to increase combat readiness, and to identify problems in logistics, training, and current military doctrine. They also test the ability of units to work together. Lastly they act as a visible expression of military might, which acts as a deterrent to potential enemy action. Most exercises are established recurring ones conducted independently by the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Marines. Although since 1989 the four branches services have increasingly begun coordinated exercises. An important component of each exercise is the after-action assessment. Joint military exercises with the armed forces of other countries are also carried out on an ad hoc basis by the armed forces of Pakistan.
Army
Azm-e-Nau
The first Exercise Azm-e-Nau was conducted in 2009, while an army exercise, it was fully coordinated with the navy and air force. In June 2013, the Pakistan Armed Forces started Azm-i-Nau IV to update the military's "readiness strategy for dealing with the complex security threat environment." The objective of the exercise was to assess military tactics, procedures and techniques in the event of the emerging threat environment, and explore joint operations strategies in response to combating the threat through all three branches of the military.
Zarb-e-Momin
Exercise Zarb–e–Momin is a joint-command field exercise conducted by the Pakistan Army since 1989. The exercises are conducted to test out the new weapon systems, and include such units as the Pakistan Army Aviation Corps and the Pakistan Army Artillery Corps. The exercise involves the deployment of three field corps, two armored brigades, two artillery divisions, one air-defence division. Since 1989, Zarb–e–Momin has usually been held in conjunction with exercise High Mark of the Pakistan Air Force.
Navy
Sea Spark
Exercise Sea Spark is largest of the naval exercises periodically conducted by the Pakistan Navy to simulate naval warfare and the protection of the country's maritime border. In 2012 the exercise took place in the North Arabian Sea and started on 17 September 2012. The navy officials stressed that exercises were aimed at assessing "operational readiness" and providing an opportunity to the officers and sailors to operate in a multi-threat environment and to exercise their responses accordingly. The navy deployed all active-duty combatant ships, submarines, fighter jets and the special operations forces, including the entire division of Marines and the naval establishments to cover the entire gamut of naval operations. The exercise also included the joint involvement of the army and air force for special joint operations. The navy put special emphasis on conventional and non-conventional war games, including the features of army and air force pitching against navy to determine the naval capabilities in joint operations in specific threat environment. In 2015 part of Exercise Sea Spark was witnessed by the prime minister. The Navy demonstrated a range of naval warfare operations against both traditional and non-traditional targets. Included were countering threats from terrorists and pirates. There were live weapon firings and naval aviation fly-bys.
Shamsheer-e-Behr
Exercise Shamsheer-e-Behr is a biannual naval war game conducted in Karachi. It focuses on testing the Navy's field exercises, and incorporating them into naval strategies.
Tahaffuz-e-Sahil
Exercise Tahaffuz-e-Sahil is a periodic naval exercise demonstrating and testing techniques for protection of the coast. In 2015 the exercise focused on protecting the port at Gwadar.
Air force
The Pakistan Air Force has several major recurring military exercises:
High Mark
Exercise High Mark is the PAF's largest and most comprehensive exercise and is held about every five years. In 2010, it lasted for forty days and covered air defenses across the entire country. Recently it has included army and naval units.
Exercise Flat Out is an aerial military exercise conducted by the Pakistan Air Force with an objectives of providing training of its personnel for surge operations in war. Because of the induction of new aircraft and in the light of past experience, the rules governing this exercise were modified in 1996 to conform with the wartime role of the various squadrons.
Exercise Saffron Bandit is a major "command level" combat training exercise, usually held either bi-annually or tri-annually, by the Pakistan Air Force. The initial targets, mainstream goals and purpose of the exercise are focused specifically on the threat from India, particularly that emanating from the Indian Air Force.
Wide Awake
Exercise Wide Awake is an aerial exercise tests the ability of bases and fighter squadrons to react to operational requirements at short notice in peacetime. Since 1997, it has been regularly conducted by the PAF.
Joint exercises
Pakistan has carried out a number of joint military exercises with China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Turkey. In 2010, the Pakistan Air Force participated in the multinational air exercise called Exercise Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. They sent several F-16s across the Atlantic with aerial refueling.
