ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- More than 1,000 airmen are at Alaska's Elmendorf and Eielson Air Force Bases for this month's Red Flag Alaska, an international training exercise.

The training unites forces from all over the world. Airmen from Japan, South Korea, Belgium and Romania joined U.S. forces for the exercise.

"We have very little training opportunities in Belgium, so this is one of the chances we have to take to get this done," said Maj. Kurt Deprez, a member of Belgium's air force.

South Korea, a country already accustomed to working with U.S. troops, is also in Alaska to strengthen the two nations' ties after the reported sinking of a South Korean warship by a North Korean submarine.

USA Multinational Air Force Exercise RED FLAG scheduled July 15

Pakistan Air Force to take part in US air exercises.

Islamabad, July 13, IRNA — Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will participate in forthcoming multinational Air Force Exercise "Red Flag" in United States scheduled to commence on 15 July, PAF said Monday.

"A contingent of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 combat aircraft along with fighter pilots and technical crew departed for the US, to participate in the forthcoming multinational Air Force Exercise "Red Flag"," a PAF statement said.

Some of the leading Air Forces of the world including the United States Air Force would take part in the exercise, it said. PAF F-16s would fly across the Atlantic Ocean to participate in Red Flag exercise.

Red Flag, one of the most reputed Air Force exercises in the world, is being held periodically in USA since 1975.

"PAF's participation in this exercise would further hone the skills of its combat and technical crew in facing the challenges of effectively employing Air Power in the 21st century," the statement said.

Senator Pervez Rashid of Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz on Saturday said imposition of sanctions against Iran is not justified and amounts to collective punishment. He added under the United Nations (UN) charter every person enjoys basic fundamental rights and the UN by imposing sanctions against Iran itself has violated the charter.

"Sanctions have always produced negative result and I being Pakistani politician is very much against the law of sanctions", he said.

He said sanctions could destabilize the whole region.