Joint Military Training Kharian

KHARIAN: (Yaseen Hashmi) Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, said multinational military exercises are essential for preparing armed forces to address evolving modern warfare challenges.

According to Pakistan’s military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the closing ceremony of the 9th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) competition was held on Feb. 9, 2026, in Kharian. Munir attended the event as the chief guest.

The PATS competition is a 60-hour patrol exercise designed to enhance professional military skills, promote the exchange of modern combat strategies, and share operational best practices. The exercise was conducted from Feb. 5 in Punjab’s semi-mountainous terrain, offering participants a realistic and demanding operational environment.

This year, teams from 19 countries participated, 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 as observers.

Sixteen teams from Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy also competed, while Pakistan Air Force representatives attended as observers. Foreign defense attachés and observers praised the exercise’s professionalism, organization, and discipline.

Field Marshal commended participants for their operational capability, endurance, and morale, emphasizing that multinational cooperation strengthens collective preparedness. He also reiterated the army’s core values of character, courage, and competence, particularly in counterterrorism operations.