ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and Egyptian armies have concluded a two-week joint military exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability, the Pakistani military said on Monday.
The Pakistan–Egypt Joint Exercise Thunder-II was launched on Apr. 6 at the Special Operations School in Cherat, in Pakistan’s northwest, with personnel from Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG) and Egyptian Army’s special forces taking part in it.
“Pakistan–Egypt Joint Exercise Thunder-II, focused on counterterrorism operations, was successfully conducted between the armies of Pakistan and Egypt at Cherat, Pakistan,” said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
“Two week long exercise was designed to enhance interoperability by refining drills, procedures, and techniques related to counterterrorism operations through joint training.”
The General Officer Commanding of the SSG attended the closing ceremony as chief guest, while Egyptian Paratroopers Commander Major General Mohamed Saad Abdel Razik and Egypt’s defense attaché also witnessed the event, according to the ISPR.
Pakistan and Egypt have strong diplomatic, political and defense relations dating back to the early years of Pakistan’s independence. Egypt was among the first Middle Eastern countries to recognize Pakistan, and the two formally established relations in 1948.
In Oct. last year, both countries agreed to strengthen economic and security cooperation during a meeting between Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, who is now the chief of Pakistani defense forces, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo.
