VP awards Pakistani army officers

Her Excellency, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, vice president and secretary of state for Women’s Affairs, who is also the chairperson of the National Security Council, yesterday, on behalf of the Gambian leader, Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, conferred special awards on two Pakistani military officers.

Captain Baber Bilal Haider, who had served as the naval adviser to the Gambian navy, and Group Captain Tameezuddin Shakir Qazi, air adviser to The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), were being honoured at the end of their tour of duty in the country. The ceremony was held at the office of the vice president, in State House, Banjul.

The duo is reported to have served the country for about one year and seven months. Speaking at the ceremony, Vice President Njie-Saidy, on behalf of President Jammeh, who is also the commander-in-chief of The Gambia Armed Forces and secretary of state for Defence, commended the officers for their remarkable achievement in the form of training and advice offered to the country’s military.

VP Njie-Saidy described the awards as "very special. She noted that the Gambian leader gives such awards to only those who work very hard and support The Gambia Armed Forces. The Gambia’s vice president assured the Pakistani military officers that President Jammeh values the existing relationship between The Gambia and Pakistan. She had many words of praise for the Pakistani military, describing it as "an army to be reckoned with”.

“We hope and pray that you will have more responsibilities and promotions in Pakistani, when you go back," she told the two officers. She added: "You were good ambassadors of Pakistan in The Gambia and we also hope that you will be our good ambassadors in Pakistan." Speaking earlier, Major General Lang Tombong Tamba, chief of defence staff of The Gambia Armed Forces, congratulated the two military officers for their "well deserved awards."

According to CDS Tamba, the ‘special honour’ awards are given to those who render invaluable services to The Gambia Armed Forces.  He revealed that the two military officers have been very instrumental in advising the Gambia Armed Forces, and that they have laid the foundation of a professional Gambia Air Force, which will soon be constituted.

"They have also been instrumental in sharing experiences with The Gambia Navy and they have gone extra miles to ensure that GAF benefits from military courses in Pakistan," CDS Tamba narrated. Major General Tamba used the opportunity to thank President Jammeh for his efforts in ensuring that GAF becomes a highly trained professional army, and the vice president for her equally endless support to the force.  CDS Tamba finally extended his best regards to the awardees.

For his part, General Amir, head of the Pakistani military team in The Gambia, who accompanied the two officers to State House, praised his colleagues for successfully completing their task in The Gambia. General Amir described the Gambia as their second home, and promised that the officers can always be accessed whenever their efforts are needed.

He expressed profound gratitude and appreciation to President Jammeh and CDS Tamba for the great care and hospitality accorded them during their stay in The Gambia. Group Captain Shakir, one of the awardees, thanked President Jammeh for conferring these awards on them. He also thanked VP Njie-Saidy and CDS Tamba for their hospitality.

He expressed hope that the fruitful cooperation that binds the two countries will flourish. In a reciprocal demonstration of appreciation of the awards, General Amir also presented a monogram of the Paskistani Navy and a military stick to Vice President Njie-Saidy, for President Jammeh. The ceremony was attended by security chiefs