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Pakistani general visits Pope

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Chris Hoyler
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Lt. Gen. Syed Athar Ali, Vice Chairman of Defense for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, visited Fort Bragg and Pope Aug. 5 and 6 as part of a U.S. tour aimed at improving bilateral relationship between the two nations' militaries. 

General Athar was invited to tour several U.S. military bases by Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as General Athar is considered his counterpart from Pakistan. 

His tour of Pope began the morning of Aug. 5, as he first toured the 21st Special Tactics Squadron. The squadron was able to provide a first-hand look into their capabilities; the general watched an air traffic control and firearms training simulator demonstration before moving on to a static display of the squadron's vehicles, weapons, equipment and communications gear. 

"I was very pleased to see that special operations continues to optimize our efforts in the Global War on Terror," General Athar said. "The training simulator was commendable; it gives a real feel to training against terrorists at a tactical level." 

The afternoon portion of the visit consisted of a tour of the 18th Air Support Operations Group. General Athar heard from 18th ASOG Airmen about their continuing role and, specifically, command and control in Operation Enduring Freedom. He also viewed a static display of the equipment and communication gear the 18th ASOG Airmen use and toured the Heritage Hall located at the front entrance of the group's headquarters building. 

The special operations side of Team Pope gave General Athar a greater appreciation for what U.S. Airmen have done for his country's forces. 

"Training is a very challenging aspect of special operations," the general said. "Our frontier corps is being helped in training by U.S. Special Operations Command. They are enhancing the capacity of our training in Pakistan. 

"I was very impressed with Pope. Everything was very professionally presented and implemented."