COAS visits training area near Kharian, witnesses PATS competition

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited training area near Kharian to witness closing ceremony of International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) competition, the ISPR said on Wednesday.

Being one of the toughest military competitions, PATS was aimed at testing survival skills and physical limits of the participants in short period of time spread over 62 hours including 25 field events. Apart from Pakistan Army, PAF, 16 foreign countries including Belarus, China, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Maldives, Palestine, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA and Uzbekistan participated in the event conducted in challenging terrain at National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) Pabbi and surrounding areas.

The COAS distributed prizes among the winners and runner up. Karachi Corps was declared overall best team, Multan Corps runner up while Rawalpindi Corps remained 3rd. Turkey clinched gold medal in International Teams while Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and South African teams were awarded silver medals. Pakistan Air Force got Bronze medal.

Speaking on the occasion, COAS congratulated the participants for successful completion of the event. COAS said that sharing of best experiences through series of events will improve combat skills and help integrate armies of participant countries. Training and team work are the hallmark of every soldier, confronted with multifarious challenges in diverse terrain, one has to be in the best physical and mental fitness for a robust and prompt response, COAS emphasised.

COAS said that spirit of sacrifice and patriotism makes a force formidable in the face of any adversity. COAS thanked all foreign participants for being part of the event and for showing their prowess.

Commanders Mangla and Gujranwala Corps, senior military officials from Pakistan Army, PAF and defence attaches from various countries were present on the occasion.

It is pertinent to mention that National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) being state-of-the-art facility with large capacity to impart quality training to combating terrorism, in all kinds of terrain has been recognised as a world class training facility attracting other armies for training with Pakistan Army.