RAWALPINDI - Pakistan Army Cadet Sardar Arsam Abbas has been declared the Overall Best Foreign Military Cadet at the Royal Military College (RMC) Duntroon in Canberra, Australia, marking the 14th time a Pakistani cadet has received this prestigious international recognition.
The announcement was made during the passing-out parade held at RMC Duntroon on May 5, 2026, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday .
The award is conferred upon the highest-performing foreign military cadet across all facets of training, including leadership, physical endurance, tactical proficiency, and academic excellence . The ISPR described the achievement as a testament to the highest standards of professionalism, commitment, and excellence demonstrated by the junior leadership of the Pakistan Army .
The commissioning parade was reviewed by Australian Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, AO DSC. The event was witnessed by members of the diplomatic corps, including the Pakistani High Commissioner in Canberra, families of graduating cadets, and Australian Defence Force officials .
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 Pakistani Army cadets have graduated from this prestigious institution since 2009 .
The list of previous recipients includes Lieutenant Nasir Hussain Khalid Sulehria Shaheed, Tamgha-e-Basalat, who embraced martyrdom on September 4, 2020, in North Waziristan District. His name is inscribed on the memorial stone at the RMC parade ground, symbolising the enduring legacy of courage, sacrifice, and honour of brave Pakistani Army officers .
This Australian honour follows another major international achievement for the Pakistan Army. In October 2025, a Pakistan Army team won the gold medal at Exercise Cambrian Patrol, one of the world's toughest military endurance and leadership competitions, held in Wales, United Kingdom .
The exercise, which celebrated its 66th year in 2025, required participating patrols from across the globe to move tactically across inhospitable terrain, covering a distance of 60 kilometres within 48 hours while completing specialist tasks in a contested environment . A total of 137 teams from 36 countries participated in the exercise .
The Pakistan Army team, led by Captain Muhammad Saad, showed exceptional performance and was awarded the gold medal . Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir lauded the team for its remarkable achievement, calling the victory a reaffirmation of the army's unwavering commitment to professionalism, endurance, and operational excellence .
These consecutive international achievements demonstrate the high standards of training, discipline, and operational readiness of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The recognition at both RMC Duntroon and Exercise Cambrian Patrol underscores the Pakistan Army's reputation as a highly capable and professionally trained force, consistently competing with and outperforming militaries from around the world .
The achievements are particularly significant as they follow the Pakistan Army's decisive victory in the May 2025 conflict against India, where the Pakistan Air Force and Army executed Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos, shooting down multiple Indian aircraft while suffering zero losses of their own, and forcing India to request a ceasefire within 87 hours.
The international military community has taken note of Pakistan's growing professional excellence, with both Australia and the United Kingdom maintaining strong military-to-military ties with Pakistan. The consistent recognition of Pakistani military personnel at prestigious international forums reflects the nation's rising stature in global defence circles.
