ISLAMABAD: The 9th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) military exercise concluded at the eastern city of Kharian, with the participation of 19 states, including Saudi Arabia and the US, a military statement said.
“The Team Spirit Competition is a 60-hour-long patrolling exercise, designed to enhance professional military skills through the exchange of innovative ideas, tactical experiences, and best practices among participating teams,” according to a statement released by the military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday.
The exercise was held from February 5- 9 in the semi-mountainous terrain of Punjab, providing a realistic and challenging operational environment.
Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir attended the closing ceremony of the exercise and presented awards to participants.
“Over the years, PATS has evolved into a prestigious and highly competitive military exercise, recognized for promoting professional excellence and mutual learning among participating nations. The forum continues to strengthen military-to-military cooperation and understanding, while fostering camaraderie and team spirit in a demanding operational setting,” ISPR said.
This year, the competition saw broad international participation from 19 countries, including Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, the United States of America, and Uzbekistan. Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand attended the exercise as observers.
In addition, 16 domestic teams from the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy took part, with observers from the Pakistan Air Force also participated in the event.
Addressing the closing ceremony, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir commended all participating teams for their exceptional professionalism, physical and mental endurance, operational competence and high morale displayed during the exercise.
“He emphasized the importance of such multinational engagements in enhancing collective preparedness and adapting to the evolving character of modern warfare,” ISPR said.
Reaffirming the core values of the Pakistan Army, the CDF underscored the enduring soldiery attributes of “character, courage and competence”, which have been consistently demonstrated by Pakistani soldiers, particularly in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
Pakistan routinely holds joint air, ground and sea exercises with regional countries and traditional allies to foster interoperability to counter threats to global peace.
