Marking Historic Excellence
Major Uqbah Malik’s batch at Sandhurst completes training
Major Uqbah Hadeed Malik, of Pakistan Army joined The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an Officer Cadet in 2006, and was awarded the Overseas Sword of Honour which is awarded to the Officer Cadet who achieves the best overall results in Military, Academic and practical studies. He returned to Pakistan joining 1st Sind Regiment and remained deployed in various areas. Major Uqbah Hadeed Malik was selected to represent Pakistan at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2015, as a Platoon Commander/Instructor to train the British cadets in order to commission in the Royal Army as officers. Major Uqbah is not only the first Officer from Pakistan but the first Muslim to have achieved this honour to be a Permanent Staff at Sandhurst for a complete tenure of two years.
December 16, 2016 marked a historic day for Pakistan and Britain’s relationship. Major Malik took over Regular Commissioning Course 161 in January this year as a Platoon Commander of a platoon which comprised 31 British officer cadets and international cadets. He was solely responsible to train them and develop their leadership skills for a year, hence this batch of officer cadets on 16th of December walked up the historic stairs of Old College building and became Second Lieutenants in the British Army. The Chief Guest who is referred to as the Sovereign’s Representative was Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, Camila Parker Bowles. Major Uqbah Hadeed Malik is uniting the the two armies for peaceful and a prosperous future. His international student from Afghanistan won the Overseas Sword of Honour.
H.E. Syed Ibne-Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK was invited as Pakistan’s guest representative. On the occasion he spoke to media and praised how Major Uqbah was respected at the prestigious institution. He maintained there is no short cut to competence and perseverance. The High Commissioner congratulated Major Malik on his historic achievement in excellence.
The first military academy in the United Kingdom was established in 1720 at Woolwich and granted Royal status in 1841. This Academy was moved to Camberley at a town called Sandhurst in 1947 and turned out to be known what today is The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Sandhurst’s stated aim is to be the National centre of excellence for leadership of the United Kingdom and has produced numerous leaders in the world.
