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Pakistan's NDU Delegation at Army Headquarters Learns More about Army Contribution to Post-Conflict Sri Lanka

A 21-member delegation of Pakistan’s National Defence University (NDU), currently in Sri Lanka on a week-long familiarization tour, arrived at the Army Headquarters Tuesday (22) afternoon.

A representative group of members of the delegation, headed by Major General Noel Israel Khokhar, called on the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake at the Commander’s office after all the delegates were welcomed on arrival at the Army Headquarters premises.

The visit, a part of Pakistan’s NDU curriculum, aims to gain an overview of the defence, economic, foreign and domestic policies of Sri Lanka and explores areas of mutual interest and cooperation in various spheres.

Commander of the Army during his brief interaction with the Head of the Delegation, Major General Noel Israel Khokhar, Major General Shahab Naqvi, Brigadier Inam Haider Malik, Brigadier Babar Iftikhar, Brigadier M. Zafar Iqbal and Brigadier A. Hussain Bhatti, gratefully recalled Pakistan Army’s assistance to Sri Lanka during both peacetime and fight against terrorism.

The delegation comprises of senior officers from Pakistan’s armed forces, Pakistan’s civil services and NDU student officers from Turkey and Bangladesh who are at present following the National Security and War Course at NDU.

An exchange of mementos between the Commander of the Army and the visiting Head of the Delegation Major General Noel Israel Khokhar, afterwards paved the way for all visiting delegates to have better exposure on the past experiences during the humanitarian operations and the post-conflict development of Sri Lanka, presented by Brigadier H.M.J.K Guneratne, Director Operations at Army Headquarters.

Similarly, a brief presentation made by visiting NDU students on ‘Pakistan’s Experience in Asymmetric Warfare’ enlightened all those who were present at the main conference hall at the Commander’s Secretariat.

Colonel Sheharyar Parvez Butt, Defence Advisor for High Commission for Pakistan in Sri Lanka who coordinated the visit and Sri Lanka Army Military Secretary Major General Amal Karunasekara were also associated with those interactive sessions at the Army Headquarters.

During their stay in Sri Lanka, the delegation is expected to meet Secretary External Affairs Ministry, Governor of the Central Bank, Chief of Defence Staff, Navy and Air Force Commanders, Jaffna Commander, East Commander, State Officials and visit Lakshman Kadiragamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies, Eastern Naval Headquarters, Security Force Headquarters, Jaffna and several other places of tourist interest.

The National Defence University (NDU) is a premier institution of Pakistan, catering to the needs of senior leadership from various segments of society, both domestic and international, in comprehending security issues and policy/strategy formulation.

The NDU is a centre of excellence in academic and research pursuits in diversified disciplines providing well thought-out inputs on national security at strategic level. The University imparts higher education in policy and strategy formulation at various tiers with emphasis on national security and defence. It also acts as a national think-tank.

‘The National Security and War Course’ at NDU covers essentials of both National Defence Course and Armed Forces War Course. The two courses, now being combined, bring rich experience of participants from divergent backgrounds and countries to add value to the process of learning in addition to creating increased interaction and understanding. Friendly countries nominate officers from different service backgrounds for the programme.