RAWALPINDI: The opening ceremony of the 8th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) Exercise 2025 was held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Pabbi.
The 60-hour-long patrolling exercise was inaugurated by the Director General Military Training and aims to strengthen military-to-military cooperation in the context of an increasingly complex international security environment.
A total of 20 friendly countries are participating in the event, including both active teams and military observers. Participating nations include Pakistan, Bahrain, Belarus, China, Saudi Arabia, Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Turkiye, the United States, and Uzbekistan. Military observers from Bangladesh, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Kenya, Myanmar, South Africa, and Thailand are also in attendance.
Organized annually by the Pakistan Army, the PATS Exercise is a mission-specific, task-oriented military competition that tests the limits of physical endurance, mental resilience, and professional military expertise. Participants are challenged to make rapid decisions and execute missions under near-real operational conditions.
The core objectives of the exercise revolve around fostering perseverance and teamwork. It also aims to enhance basic soldiering skills and promote interoperability among participating forces through the exchange of innovative ideas and best practices.
