Pakistan-Türkiye Joint Commandos Exercises: Continuity of Pak-Turkiye Strong Defence Ties
Dr. Syed Mehboob
Economic and Political Analyst
http//: www.thenewslark.com
Pakistan and Türkiye are two brothers, friends enjoying historical deep-rooted relations, and friendship between Pakistan and Türkiye is sweeter than honey, greater than K2, and deeper than oceans. This friendship, whenever mentioned, sweetens our hearts and minds. I am proud that I am a humble part of the sincere and serious efforts to further enhance this friendship and transfer awareness about this inro the hearts and minds of our new generation.
Recently held Pakistan-Türkiye joint Commando exercises were the continuity of strong Pakistan-Türkiye defence relations. These exercises, known as Jinnah XIII, were successfully conducted in Türkiye on 16th April 2026 and meant to focus on counter-terrorism operations. Combat teams from the Pakistan Army participated alongside their Turkish counterparts, with training activities held in Ankara and Isparta. These exercises achieved all their training and military diplomacy objectives, with troops from Pakistan and Türkiye demonstrating high standards of professionalism and operational excellence throughout the drills.
The primary aim of the exercise was to refine drills, procedures, and techniques related to counterterrorism operations. Special emphasis was placed on combat in built-up areas and countering improvised explosive devices ( IEDS) through joint training.
The exercise further strengthened longstanding military-to-military relations between the two friendly nations. The exercise reflected close cooperation and shared commitment to counterterrorism. The Pakistan Navy successfully conducted a live weapon training firing of an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-ship missile. In a resolute and determined display of preparedness and precision-strike capability, the Pakistan Navy successfully conducted a live weapon firing of an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-ship missile, accurately engaging its target at high speed and extended range.
Brotherly and friendly country Türkiye has been involved in modernizing Pakistan’s submarine fleet, including upgrades to the Agosta 90B-class submarine to enhance the country's maritime capabilities. In February 2025, Pakistan and Türkiye concluded their two-week joint military exercise, “ Ataturk XIII,” highlighting the deepening defence cooperation between the two friendly countries. These exercises are highly important in combating and rooting out “terrorism,” of which both countries are victims, and brother country Turkiye has set an example of fighting and overcoming terrorism in Türkiye, and similarly, Pakistan forces sacrifice a lot in combating against terrorism, and the whole nation is behind its beloved armed forces to root out this menace from its soil.
The Special Services Group (SSG) is the Special Operations Commando of the Pakistan Armed Forces. This SSG is also known by its nickname of “Maroon Berets” due to the colour of their headgear. The SSG is responsible for deploying and executing five doctrinal missions: foreign internal defence, reconnaissance, direct action, counter-terrorism operations, and unconventional warfare. Other operational roles and responsibilities attributed to the SSG include search and rescue, counter-proliferation, search and destroy, hostage rescue, information operations, peacekeeping missions, psychological operations, security assistance, and HVT manhunts.
The chain of command and control of the SSG falls within the domain of the Pakistan Army’s Strategic Command ( ASFC), and many of its personnel are directly recruited into the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) ‘s counter terrorism division or the SSG directorate upon their retirement. Much of the SSG’s activities and operations are shrouded in security, and public knowledge of them is heavily controlled through selected classified documents and published literary works by retired military veterans or authorized media.
On 23 March 1956, the Special Service Group (SSG) was established as a Battalion under the command of its first Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel A.O Mitha, after founding the School of Special Operations (SSO). The Special Services Group's institution and the physical training remained under the command of Lt. Col. Mitha until 1961–62. The headquarters of the Army Special Service Group was then based in Cherat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan.
Initially, the SSG were popular as the Green Berets with Baloch insignia in the 1950s, but the SSG dropped their green berets in favor of adopting the Baloch Regiment's maroon berets– hence giving them the nickname the Maroon Berets. In 1964, the Parachute Training School (PTS) was established under the watchful guidance of the 101st Airborne Division.
The SSG initially had six battalions, and each battalion had specialized units, specialized in the different war spectrum: desert, mountain, long-distance ranger, and deep diving and warfare. In August 1965, the operational scope of the Army SSG was expanded from a battalion-sized to a larger special operations outfit. In 1968–70, the Pakistan Army integrated the Chinese-introduced physical training, tactics, weapons, and equipment.
At the end of this nine-month course, all SSG candidates must take and pass the four-week para-training course at the airborne school in Peshawar. Subsequently, SSG members gain their wings and the coveted maroon berets after completing five days and two night jumps (non-SSG members only have to complete 5-day jumps). After completing the basic commando course, the newly inducted commandos undergo the advanced commando course, which lasts an additional 25 weeks. Only at the end of these two grueling phases do operators become integral members of the SSG.
The Special Forces Command (: Özel Kuvvetler Komutanlığı—ÖKK) is a corps of the Turkish Armed Forces initially established as a brigade on 14 April 1992, operating directly under the Turkish General Staff. According to the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) dress code, the ÖKK, also known as the Bordo Bereliler, are noteworthy for their distinctive maroon berets. Their task is to carry out special operations that exceed the capabilities of other military units.
First established on 27 September 1952 as the Special and Auxiliary Combat Units, as a part of NATO's Operation Gladio, they did counterguerrilla operations in North Korea during the Korean War. In November 1953, re-established as the Mobilized Reconnaissance Board and sent out to Cyprus for Long Range Reconnaissance Operation and arming and organizing the Turkish Resistance Organization. On 14 December 1970, it was reorganized as the Special Warfare Department. Due to the emergence of external dangers after the Gulf War and threats from the northern part of Iraq, the Special Forces Command was established as a brigade on 14 April 1992. In 2006, the brigade transitioned to a division. ÖKK leadership was upgraded from major-general to lieutenant-general, and the new division was split into the 1st and 2nd brigades with the expectation that the troop count would double from 7000 to 14,000 by 2009. They ranked first among twenty-six special forces troops at the World Special Forces Championship held in Germany in 2004.
The Pakistan-Turkiye joint Commandos exercise is a welcome move and is highly beneficial for both countries' forces. Insha Allah, the Muslim Ummah soon will be free from Terrorists and will pave the way for greater peace and development in the world.
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