ISLAMABAD: Egypt and Pakistan have launched a two-week joint military exercise aimed at sharpening operational skills and strengthening military-to-military ties, the Pakistani military said on Monday.
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.
On Monday, the two-week exercise, ‘Thunder-II,’ was launched at the Special Operations School, Cherat in Pakistan’s northwest, with members of Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group and Special Forces of the Egyptian Army participating in it.
“The exercise is aimed at enhancing professional skills through joint training, while further strengthening the longstanding military-to-military relations between the two friendly countries,” said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
“Participating troops will benefit from the exchange of mutual experiences and expertise, particularly in the conduct of counter-terrorism operations.”
Over the years, Pakistan and Egypt have maintained military and defense relations through joint trainings and exercises as well as visits of senior officials from both countries.
During his visit in Oct., Field Marshal Munir had commended the Egyptian leadership for its key role in the region’s peace and stability, while President El-Sisi expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s positive and proactive contributions to matters of importance for the world and the Muslim Ummah.
“Both leaders underlined the importance of coordination on matters of mutual strategic interests and strengthening people-to-people contacts,” the ISPR had said at the time.