Joint counter-terrorism training in Pakistan for Iraqi Special Forces

According to media reports, military personnel from the Iraqi Special Forces participated in an extensive two-month training programme at the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC), an internationally renowned training centre with modern facilities located in the town of Pabbi in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of northwestern Pakistan. In recent years, Pakistan and Iraq have worked closely together on counter-terrorism initiatives and joint training programmes. Pakistan’s state broadcaster, Radio Pakistan, reported that national military institutions are playing an important role in providing counter-terrorism training and enhancing security cooperation in the region. The history of military training cooperation between the two countries dates back to 1955 when the Pakistani army agreed to train Iraqi special forces.