A total of 24 lady officers successfully completed the course at Parachute Training School, Peshawar. PHOTO: ISPR
ISLAMABAD: The first group of female paratroopers completed their training on Sunday, the military announced, hailing it as a "landmark achievement.”
A total of 24 lady officers of Pakistan Army successfully completed the course at Parachute Training School, Peshawar.
Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani congratulated all the lady officers and their training staff on successful completion of the course.
Captain Kiran Ashraf was declared the best paratrooper of the batch, the military said in a statement, while Captain Sadia, referred to by one name, became the first woman officer to jump from a MI-17 helicopter.
After three weeks' basic airborne training, which included exit, flight and landing techniques, the new paratroopers completed their first jump on Sunday and were given their "wings" by the commander of Special Services Group, Major General Abid Rafique, the military said.
In 2006, seven women broke into one of Pakistan's most exclusive male clubs to graduate as fighter pilots - perhaps the most prestigious job in the powerful military and for six decades closed to the fairer sex.
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well Done Capt Kiran EME 505 wksp
good saadia Khalid we are proud of you
GOOD KEEP IT UP
@Ch. Allah Daad
FIP, officers have been waiting for last 7 years for this opportunity. Pl if you are unaware of these things, must not speak as it create confusion. These officers have proved their mettle in their respective branches, then they were given this chance. Hope you are not one of the man, who discourageous women excelling in field. Less being jealous, appreciate them... Goodluck.. and buck up Heena Afridi.
@Sawera, pl read the heading again, it says Pak Army, its first batch of paratrooper, who passed out from SSG, hope you the level of our commandos.. Stop creating quarrels among sister forces, pl..
Long Live Pak, long live Pak Armed Forces.
@Baby Ka Husband: lol..
good to see! Pakistani women are going places...
13 April 2006.... First Female Paratroopers in the history of Pakistan... "Bismah Nasim" and " Fatima Khalil" of Pakistan Airforce made five successful jumps from C-130... Yes the above army girls can be called First female Paratroopers of army bot not of Pakistan....
@Rex Minor: I agree, normally this is done from a C-130 cargo aircraft but due to limited number of jumpers they used MI-17 helicopters to economize. If u r in a heli, u can drop the soldiers by hovering 3 to 4 feet above ground, don't require parachutes to jump from helis !!
Paratroopers from the Helicopter? They are usualy classifie as show jumping; one does not require a parashoot to jump from a helicopter ?
Rex Minor
This is the beginning of equal participation of Pakistani men and women.
The entire nation is proud of daughters of Pakistan.
May Al-Mighty Allah save them from evil forces.
AMEEN.
@Ch. Allah Daad Can you explain your typical male chauvinistic side demand that these women require some courage to be mentioned. It's typical of men like you that are determined to under mention any new strides by Pakistani women. For your limited information Pakistani women do not have the same opportunities as enjoyed by women in other countries so for you to even imagine we had the same opportunists shows your ignorance to Pakistani women. Even in America women were just allowed in combat positions after years of fighting a male dominated society similar to Pskistan. It's only these ladies, Malala, Sharmeen Chinoy have broken the glass ceiling after years of suppression by males like you.
Yet another achievement for Pakistan. Pakistan Jindabad!
@ Heena Afridi, Can you explain what courage these young women have shown?. What they did is a very normal activity for women throughout world. Women of other Nations have gone to space and we are congratulationg them for doing a very normal thing. They did not fight for this opportunity, instead it was given to them. Women who fight for their rights and achieve something are real achievers.
Looking back into history and what men have achieved, leting our our women take control and contribute is our best chance - Pakistan Zindabad
Its indicates there are major weekness in country's men's army, they don't believe on men's army after OBL nodus. Its very shameful that pakistan men's armies are so incapable that now they are going to depend on womens.
A very proud moment! Keep it up.
@Ch. Allah Dead For once cannot your type of negative, down looking people just congratulate these courageous women why must people like you always try to rain on their parade?
Now please use your newly acquired skill and drop yourself in FATA region and kill some TTP folks and bring about some women empowerment in this region.
Hey, Taliban eat your heart out. Congrats to all these officers.
Beginning is always welcomed and congratulated but its the End which is creating confusion. Hope, when these women retire they don't call their achievement against Islam and culture. Ask any retired high ranking officer, his thoughts would be different about these women.
@Baby Ka Husband: What makes you think it can't be the other way around?
Mashallah well done jazba ho to fatah asan hota ha Keep it up shbash
Pakistan woman must work hard for completed with Man Congratulation
Good news regarding equality of opportunities to all. Have a good time serving your country. Rab rakha
Yet again the Pakistani women prove that given fair and equal opportunities they can truly overcome all obstacles and achieve greatly so as to leave those who criticise them for being the weaker sex are left baffled... way to go for Pakistani women.. and bravo girls for you have opened another door for the generations to come.. no small feat in any way so hats off to you all.... t
Way to go ladies.
Small step but a giant leap....keep it up....! Qaum ki betian...shabash.....
The tactic of our army is simple. If they don't get thumbs up while fighting the terrorist and bringing the security, they make headlines like this
Congratulation to all officer,s who completed their training,,, Women of pakistan are very brave, I slaute them....Long Live Pakistan
way to go Pakistani Lionesses. Mashallah
Small progress ............ but progress all the same.............well done.
Mashallah, Jazakallah....
proud to be a pakistani women.
Calling women "ladies" and referring to the "fairer" sex is rather paradoxical given their achievements - when will we jettison this archaic Victorian language with its intrinsic patriarchal biases?
True Islam ki beti. Pakistanis should be proud of you.
Bravo! Proud of the soil of Pakistan and its gallantry people..!