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Pakistan hosts multinational military exercise to boost cooperation among allied forces

By Imran Nasir

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Wednesday inaugurated the 9th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) Competition at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Pabbi, bringing together military teams from across the world for a high-intensity exercise designed to strengthen interoperability and defense cooperation, the military said.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the opening ceremony marked the start of a demanding 60-hour patrolling exercise focused on real-world operational scenarios. A senior military officer attended the inaugural event.

The competition features 24 international teams from 19 countries, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Malaysia, Egypt, Qatar, Bangladesh, Morocco, and Uzbekistan. Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand are participating as observers.

Pakistan has also fielded 16 domestic teams from the army and navy, while observers from the Pakistan Air Force are monitoring the drills.

Hosted annually, the Pakistan Army Team Spirit exercise is a mission-specific and task-oriented event that tests participants’ physical endurance, mental resilience, and tactical expertise. Troops are required to make rapid decisions while executing sub-tactical missions in a near-real operational environment.

The military said the exercise aims to foster teamwork and strengthen professional bonds among friendly nations while enabling forces to exchange innovative ideas and best practices. Officials view the event as part of Pakistan’s broader effort to promote military-to-military engagement and enhance collective preparedness for evolving security challenges.