KHARIAN: The Pakistan Army’s multinational patrolling exercise, the 9th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) Competition, concluded at Kharian on February 9, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday.
According to ISPR, the closing ceremony was attended by Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces (COAS & CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as the chief guest.
The exercise, conducted from February 5, was a 60-hour-long patrolling competition aimed at enhancing professional military skills through the sharing of tactical experience, innovative ideas and best practices among participating teams.
ISPR said the exercise was held in the semi-mountainous terrain of Punjab, providing a realistic and demanding operational environment.
Over the years, PATS has evolved into a prestigious and highly competitive military event, promoting professional excellence, mutual learning and stronger military-to-military cooperation among participating countries.
Participation from 19 countries
This year’s competition saw participation from 19 countries, including Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Turkiye, the United States and Uzbekistan.
Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand attended the event as observers.
Sixteen teams from the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy also took part, while observers from the Pakistan Air Force were present.
COAS praises professionalism of participants
Addressing the closing ceremony, Field Marshal Asim Munir praised all participating teams for their professionalism, physical and mental endurance, operational skills and high morale.
He stressed the importance of multinational military engagements in improving collective preparedness and adapting to the evolving nature of modern warfare.
Reaffirming the Pakistan Army’s core values, the army chief highlighted the importance of character, courage and competence, saying these qualities had consistently been demonstrated by Pakistani soldiers, particularly in ongoing counter terrorism operations.
At the conclusion of the event, the COAS & CDF presented awards to outstanding teams and individuals.
International observers and defence attachés attending the ceremony appreciated the high standard of organization, discipline and professionalism displayed throughout the exercise.
Visit to National Counter Terrorism Centre
Separately, the army chief visited the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Pabbi, where he observed various training activities, including the newly established Tactical Simulator.
He commended the troops and technical staff and underscored the importance of simulator-based training to complement traditional military training methods.