Rawalpindi: The opening ceremony of the 9th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) Competition–2026 was held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Pabbi, marking the start of a 60-hour patrolling exercise aimed at enhancing military-to-military cooperation among contingents from friendly countries. The event was attended by a senior officer and features participation from 24 international teams representing 19 countries, including Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, the United States, and Uzbekistan. Observers from Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand are also present. Sixteen domestic teams from the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy, along with observers from the Pakistan Air Force, are participating in the exercise. The PATS competition is a mission-specific, task-oriented professional military exercise hosted annually in Pakistan. It tests the highest standards of physical fitness, mental resilience, and tactical expertise, focusing on rapid decision-making under challenging operational conditions. The exercise aims to foster perseverance, teamwork, and mutual cooperation among participating forces, while providing a platform for sharing innovative ideas and best practices to enhance interoperability. ONLINE
