The opening ceremony of the 9th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) Competition 2026 was held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Pabbi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The ceremony marked the commencement of a 60-hour long patrolling exercise and was attended by a senior Pakistan Army officer. The annual competition is aimed at enhancing military-to-military cooperation, professional interaction, and interoperability among participating contingents from friendly countries.
ISPR said that a total of 24 international teams from 19 countries are taking part in the competition, along with military observers. The 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. Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand are participating as observers.
From Pakistan, 16 teams from the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy are participating in the exercise, while observers from the Pakistan Air Force are also present.
According to ISPR, Pakistan Army Team Spirit is a mission-specific and task-oriented professional military exercise hosted annually in Pakistan. The competition places a strong emphasis on physical endurance, mental resilience, and tactical proficiency, requiring participants to operate in a near real operational environment while undertaking demanding sub-tactical missions.
The exercise focuses on rapid decision-making under pressure and aims to sharpen core soldiering skills. ISPR added that PATS also serves as a platform for participating forces to share experiences, exchange best practices, and learn from each other’s operational concepts.
The stated objective of the exercise is to promote perseverance through team spirit while strengthening cooperation and interoperability among friendly militaries, reflecting Pakistan Army’s commitment to professional military engagement and collective security.
