Pakistan, Egypt conclude Thunder-II drill

Pakistan and Egypt successfully concluded a joint counterterrorism exercise, "Thunder-II", held at Cherat in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the military's media wing said on Monday.

According to the military's media wing—the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)—the two-week exercise was "designed to enhance interoperability by refining drills, procedures, and techniques related to counterterrorism operations through joint training".

Combat teams from the Pakistan Army's Special Services Group (SSG) and the Egyptian Special Forces participated in the exercise, "demonstrating exceptional professionalism and operational skill throughout".

The closing ceremony was attended by the General Officer Commanding Special Services Group as the chief guest, while Commander Egyptian Paratroopers Major General Mohamed Saad Abdel Razik and Egypt's defence attaché also witnessed the event.

The ISPR said the exercise "served to further strengthen the longstanding and historic military-to-military relations between the two friendly nations".

Pakistan and Egypt commenced the joint exercise on April 6 at the Special Operations School in Cherat, the ISPR had said at the time.

Pakistan's armed forces regularly conduct joint exercises with foreign militaries to exchange professional expertise and strengthen combat readiness.

In January, the Pakistan and US armies also conducted a joint military exercise titled 'Inspired Gambit–2026' aimed at enhancing counter-terrorism cooperation between the two forces.