Pakistan Army cadet wins top foreign honour at Australian military college

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army Cadet Sardar Arsam Abbas has been declared the overall best foreign military cadet by Australia’s Royal Military College (RMC), Duntroon, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday.

The military’s media wing said the Pakistani cadet, from PMA 152 Long Course, received the distinction at the passing out parade held at RMC Duntroon in Canberra on May 5.

According to the ISPR, the award is given to the highest-performing foreign military cadet across all aspects of training. The statement described the recognition as a reflection of the standards shown by the Pakistan Army’s junior leadership.

“The Australian RMC, Duntroon has declared Pakistani army Cadet Sardar Arsam Abbas (PMA 152 Long Course) the ‘overall best foreign military cadet’ in the passing out parade held at RMC Duntroon, Canberra on May 5,” ISPR said in a statement.

“This is a testament to the highest standards of professionalism, commitment and excellence demonstrated by the junior leadership of the Pakistan Army,” the military’s media wing added.

Parade attended by senior officials

The ISPR said the commissioning parade was reviewed by Australian Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart along with other officials. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, including Pakistan’s high commissioner in Canberra, as well as families of graduating cadets and officials of the Australian Defence Force.

Military ties highlighted

In its statement, the ISPR also pointed to the longstanding military relationship between Pakistan and Australia. Since 2013, seven Pakistan Army officers have served on the faculty of RMC as platoon commanders.

The statement further said that 46 Pakistan Army cadets have graduated from the institution since 2009, underlining what it described as continued professional engagement between the two countries’ militaries.

“Pakistan and Australia share a longstanding military relationship. Since 2013, seven officers of the Pakistan Army have served as platoon commanders on the faculty of RMC, while 46 Pakistan Army cadets have graduated from this prestigious institution since 2009,” the statement said.

14th such recognition for a Pakistani cadet

The ISPR said the latest declaration marked the 14th time that a Pakistan Army cadet had been named the overall best foreign military cadet at the Australian institution.

The list of recipients includes Lieutenant Nasir Hussain Khalid Selhria, who was martyred on September 4, 2020, in North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The statement said Lieutenant Nasir Shaheed’s name is inscribed on the memorial stone at the RMC parade ground, which it said symbolises the enduring legacy of courage, sacrifice and honour associated with Pakistani Army officers. “The name of Lieutenant Nasir Shaheed is also inscribed on the memorial stone at the RMC parade ground, symbolising the enduring legacy of courage, sacrifice and honour of brave Pakistani Army officers,” the statement concluded.