Saudi cadets among 88 midshipmen graduate from Pakistan Naval Academy 

Commissioning term marching off during the 120th Midshipmen and 28th SSC course commissioning parade at Pakistan Naval Academy Manora, Karachi, Pakistan on December 30, 2023. (Photo courtesy: Pakistan Navy)
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Updated 31 December 2023
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Saudi cadets among 88 midshipmen graduate from Pakistan Naval Academy 

  • The commissioning parade of 120th Midshipmen course was held at the Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi 
  • The commissioning contingent included 60 cadets from Pakistan, 27 from Saudi Arabia and one from Bahrain 

ISLAMABAD: More than two dozen Saudi cadets among 88 midshipmen have graduated from the Pakistan Naval Academy, the Pakistan Navy said on Saturday. 

The commissioning parade of 120th Midshipmen course was held at the naval academy in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, which was attended by Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf as the chief guest. 

The commissioning contingent included 60 cadets from Pakistan, 27 from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and one from Bahrain, according to Pakistan Navy. 

In his address, the naval chief commended parents of these cadets for instilling a spirit in their children to serve their nations.  

"He also lauded Pakistan Naval Academy for imparting quality training and expressed his hope that cadets from friendly countries trained at PNA will serve as our brand ambassadors to enhance bonds of endearment and affinity," the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.  

Admiral Ashraf also advised the youth on a new dimension of warfare, which was the use of social media for disinformation.  

Later, he gave away awards to the distinction holders.  

The armed forces of Pakistan and the Middle Eastern countries enjoy strong ties. The two sides often undertake joint military drills and exercises. 


Pakistan cricket chief says boycott of India match aimed at restoring Bangladesh’s dignity

Updated 59 min 40 sec ago
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Pakistan cricket chief says boycott of India match aimed at restoring Bangladesh’s dignity

  • Mohsin Naqvi says Pakistan sought to highlight Bangladesh’s grievances in World Cup dispute
  • His comments come a day after Pakistan reversed decision to boycott the Feb. 15 India clash

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s decision to briefly threaten a boycott of its Twenty20 World Cup match against India was intended to highlight what it saw as unfair treatment of Bangladesh and to press for the concerns raised by Bangladeshi officials to be addressed, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Tuesday.

Pakistan withdrew its decision a day earlier to skip the Group A clash scheduled for Feb. 15 in Colombo, ending a week-long standoff with the International Cricket Council (ICC) that had drawn intervention from several member boards amid fears of disruption to the tournament.

“Our objective was only to ensure that Bangladesh was treated with dignity and that the injustice done to them was highlighted,” Naqvi told journalists in Peshawar. “You saw that whatever points Bangladesh raised were accepted. That’s it. We had no personal agenda of our own in this.”

Bangladesh had raised security concerns about playing its World Cup matches in India amid political tensions between the two countries and sought the relocation of its fixtures to Sri Lanka, a request that was turned down by the ICC. Subsequently, Bangladesh chose to withdraw from the tournament and were replaced by Scotland instead.

Pakistan cited Bangladesh’s removal from the original schedule as unjust when it initially instructed its team not to face India, a move that would have resulted in a forfeiture.

The decision led to a crisis situation since the India-Pakistan match is the biggest and most lucrative clash in the world of cricket, leading to a frantic weekend of negotiations.

The reversal allows Pakistan to proceed with the marquee India match after Bangladesh’s concerns were accommodated by the ICC, Naqvi said.

Pakistan, who edged past the Netherlands in their opening game, face the United States today in Group A, with India set to travel to Colombo for the Feb. 15 clash.

Pakistan and India, bitter political rivals, have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade and meet only at global tournaments at neutral venues.