PATS competition to enhance combat skills, help integrate participant armies: COAS

Apart from Pakistan Army and PAF, 16 foreign countries participated in the event conducted from March 1-3

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday said that sharing of best experiences through International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) competition will not only improve combat skills of the troops but also help integrate armies of the participant countries.

He said this while addressing a prize distribution ceremony at the conclusion of the three-day event organised at National Counter Terrorism Centre( NCTC ), a training area near Kharian, from March 1-3, military’s media wing, the ISPR, said in a statement.

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, KSA, Maldives, Palestine, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA and Uzbekistan participated in the event conducted in a challenging terrain at NCTC and surrounding areas.

In pictures: 16 countries participate as 3rd Pakistan Army Team Spirit Competition kicks off

The army chief distributed prizes among the winners and runner up.

Karachi Corps was declared overall best team, Multan Corps came second while Rawalpindi Corps remained third. Turkey clinched gold medal in International Teams while KSA, Sri Lanka and South Africa shared the silver medal. Pakistan Air Force secured Bronze medal.

Speaking on the occasion, Gen Qamar congratulated the participants for successful completion of the event. He said that sharing of best experiences through series of events will improve combat skills and help integrate armies of the 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 emphasized,” he maintained.

The COAS further said that the spirit of sacrifice and patriotism, makes a force formidable in the face of any adversity. He 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 NCTC, being the state of the art facility with large capacity to impart quality training for combating terrorism in all kinds of terrain, has been recognised as a world class training facility attracting other armies for training with the Pakistan Army.