Pakistan and Egypt have concluded a joint counterterrorism military exercise aimed at strengthening defence cooperation amid wider efforts to support stability and ease tensions in the Middle East….reports Africa Daily Newsdesk
Pakistan and Egypt have concluded a joint military exercise focused on counterterrorism operations and tactical coordination, highlighting growing defence ties between the two countries amid wider regional peace efforts in the Middle East.
The two week drill, named Thunder-II, was conducted in Cherat, a hill station and military cantonment in Pakistan’s Nowshera District. The exercise involved combat detachments from Egypt’s Special Forces and the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG).
According to reports carried by Radio Pakistan, the exercise concluded with a closing ceremony attended by senior military officials from both countries, including Major General Mohamed Saad Abdel Razik, commander of Egyptian paratroopers, the Egyptian defence attaché, and the General Officer Commanding of Pakistan’s Special Services Group.
Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) had announced the launch of the exercise, describing it as part of ongoing efforts to improve operational readiness and military cooperation between Islamabad and Cairo.
“Troops from the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group and the Egyptian Army’s Special Forces are participating in the exercise. The Commandant of the Special Operations School attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest,” the ISPR had said in a statement.
“The participating troops will benefit from the exchange of mutual experiences and expertise, particularly in conducting counter-terrorism operations,” the statement added.
Military officials said the exercise focused on improving battlefield coordination and sharing expertise in areas including urban warfare, intelligence based missions and rapid response tactics, all considered critical elements in modern counterterrorism operations.
The drill also reflected broader efforts by both countries to strengthen defence and security cooperation amid evolving regional and international security challenges.
Business Insider Africa reported that the conclusion of the military exercise comes at a time when Egypt and Pakistan are also expanding diplomatic consultations on regional peace initiatives.
Last month, Reuters reported that Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Cairo was working closely with Pakistan on a framework aimed at securing lasting peace between the United States and Iran.
According to the report, Abdelatty said Turkey and Saudi Arabia were also involved in discussions focused on reducing regional tensions and preventing further escalation.
The Egyptian foreign minister reportedly stressed the importance of protecting Gulf countries while ensuring the stability of energy markets, supply chains and food security across the region.
The diplomatic efforts come amid continuing geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East, where regional powers have increasingly sought coordinated approaches to avoid wider instability and economic disruption.
Pakistan and Egypt have maintained longstanding diplomatic and defence relations, with military cooperation forming a key part of bilateral engagement in recent years.
Defence analysts say joint exercises such as Thunder-II not only improve military interoperability but also signal growing political trust and strategic alignment between participating countries.
The latest exercise is expected to further deepen military coordination between Islamabad and Cairo while reinforcing wider efforts by regional powers to pursue dialogue, security cooperation and conflict prevention across the Middle East and neighbouring regions.
