ISLAMABAD: Iraqi Special Forces have completed a two-month counter-terrorism training course at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in northwestern Pakistan, state media reported on Sunday.
The Iraqi personnel arrived in Pakistan in December last year to undergo training at the NCTC situated in Pabbi town in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
A closing ceremony was held at the NCTC to mark the completion of the training, where Iraqi personnel were congratulated on their achievement. Senior officials from the Pakistan Army and the visiting Iraqi delegation attended the event.
“Pakistani military institutions are playing an important role in providing counter-terrorism training and enhancing security cooperation in the region,” Radio Pakistan reported.
Pakistan-Iraq cooperation for military training dates back to 1955, under which the Pakistan Army agreed to train Iraqi Special Forces personnel at the request of the Iraq Army.
The army will train more Iraqi Special Forces personnel at the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Pabbi which is an internationally renowned training centre with modern facilities.
In recent years, Pakistan and Iraq have strengthened their ties through enhanced defence cooperation, with Islamabad often offering training to Iraqi security forces.
In 2014, Iraq acquired Super Mushak trainer aircraft from Pakistan, further solidifying the defence relations between the two Muslim-majority countries.
