19 countries in attendance as Pakistan hosts the 9th International Army Team Spirit event
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
Competition aimed at enhancing military-to-military cooperation amongst contingents from friendly forces
The opening ceremony of the 9th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) Competition–2026 was held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) on February 4, 2026. Photo: PTV
The military kicked off the 9th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) Competition 2026 on Wednesday with the attendance of contingents from the forces of 19 friendly countries.
A post on X by state broadcaster PTV News said the opening ceremony was held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Pabbi, with the aim of enhancing military-to-military cooperation amongst contingents from 19 friendly countries’ forces.
“A total of 24 international teams from 19 friendly countries, along with military observers, are participating in the competition. Participating countries include Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, United States of America, and Uzbekistan. Additionally, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand are participating as observers,” the post said.
It added that a total of 16 domestic teams from the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy, along with observers from the Pakistan Air Force, were also taking part in the exercise.
The opening ceremony of the 9th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) Competition–2026 was held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Pabbi, aimed at enhancing military-to-military cooperation amongst contingents from friendly forces. The inaugural event,… pic.twitter.com/Xke6pODRXn— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) February 4, 2026
It said PATS is a mission specific and task-oriented professional military exercise, hosted annually in the country.
“The exercise demands the highest standards of physical fitness, mental resilience and military expertise, focusing on rapid decision-making while conducting challenging sub-tactical missions in a near real operational environment.
“The aim of the exercise is to promote perseverance through team spirit. It seeks to hone basic soldierly attributes while enhancing interoperability among participating forces through mutual sharing of innovative ideas and best practices.”
Last year, the military had hosted the 8th edition of the PATS competition at Kharian Garrison, drawing participation from 15 local and international military teams.
The 60-hour-long, high-intensity military exercise focused on patrolling in semi-mountainous terrain and was designed to enhance combat skills, adaptability, and teamwork through a shared exchange of tactics and innovative techniques.
The exercise had evolved into a prestigious platform for military-to-military engagement and professional development.
Reference Link:- https://tribune.com.pk/story/2590774/19-countries-in-attendance-as-pakistan-hosts-9th-international-army-team-spirit-event
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
