ISLAMABAD: Cadets from Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Bahrain were among the graduating class of cadets at the Pakistan Military Academy Kakul in the garrison city of Abbottabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday. The ceremony, which involves a passing out parade, was attended by Chief of Air Staff, Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, as chief guest.
Awards were given to distinguished cadets, with the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Overseas Gold Medal awarded to Under Officer Al Bazour from Palestine.
Addressing members of the passing out parade, the air chief congratulated graduating cadets and their parents on the successful completion of training and the cadets’ commission into service. He said the Pakistan armed forces took great pride in its sacrifices against militancy and bringing peace and normalcy to the country. He also told cadets to uphold the expectations of the country, by following the highest standards of professional excellence and personal conduct.
Earlier this month, Lt. Gen. Fahad Bin Abdullah Mohammad Al-Motair, Commander of the Royal Saudi Land Forces, visited PMA Kakul and met with Saudi cadets undergoing their training program.
The armed forces of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have historically strong ties, with defense cooperation and coordination between them in various areas, including their navies and armies.
Earlier this year, the two countries conducted a joint military exercise called Kaseh 2 in northwestern Pakistan. The drills were aimed at enhancing the efficiency of engineers in unconventional warfare in both countries.
Arab cadets graduate from Pakistan Military Academy Kakul
Arab cadets graduate from Pakistan Military Academy Kakul
- The oversees gold medal was awarded to under officer Al Bazour from Palestine
- Armed forces of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have historic ties, with strong cooperation and coordination in defense
Pakistan, Bangladesh eye greater defense cooperation amid tensions with India
- Bangladesh Air Force chief Hasan Mahmood Khan discusses regional security with Pakistan Navy chief
- Meeting takes place amid renewed political tensions between Bangladesh and Pakistan’s arch-rival India
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy chief and the head of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) discussed strengthening defense cooperation on Thursday amid Dhaka’s ongoing tensions with Islamabad’s rival New Delhi.
The development takes place a day after Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and BAF chief Hasan Mahmood Khan held talks on the possible procurement of the JF-17 Thunder, a multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed with China, in Islamabad.
Pakistan and Bangladesh have moved closer since 2024 after the ouster of former premier Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after a violent uprising. New Delhi has angered Dhaka by not accepting its repeated requests to extradite the former Bangladeshi premier. The recent lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh also strained its ties with India further
Khan called on Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf at the Naval Headquarters in Islamabad, the Pakistan military’s media wing said.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual professional interest, the evolving regional security paradigm, and avenues for further strengthening bilateral defense cooperation were discussed,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan military’s press wing, said.
The statement said both dignitaries agreed on the importance of increasing the frequency of high-level exchanges and joint training exercises to promote greater synergy.
“The visit of the Bangladesh Air Chief underscores the deepening defense ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh, following the significant visit of Admiral Naveed Ashraf to Dhaka in late 2025,” the statement said.
Pakistan has fought three wars against India since both countries gained independence from British rule in 1947.
The two nuclear-armed neighbors engaged in the worst fighting between them since 1999 in May last year, pounding each other with missiles, drone strikes, fighter jets and exchanging artillery fire before US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on May 10.
Pakistan has since eyed bolstering its defense capabilities with traditional allies Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Azerbaijan and others.
