By Hamza Ameer

Islamabad, Oct 11 (IANS): A Pakistan Army contingent has left for Qatar to assist its government in ensuring security of the FIFA World Cup 2022.

The contingent, comprising officers, junior commissioned officers, and enlisted personnel, left for Doha from Rawalpindi's Nur Khan air base on Monday, and would be part of the security level duties during the World Cup.

The decision to have Pakistan Army personnel as part of the security team to ensure full safety during the FIFA World Cup 2022 was undertaken after FIFA training team visited Pakistan during September to provide training on FIFA security to the selected Pakistan Army contingent.

The Pakistan Army security for the FIFA World Cup 2022 is being provided after the Qatar government requested Islamabad for security-level assistance for the event, and a four-member delegation of the Qatari Ministry of Interior also visited Pakistan during August this year.

Along with Pakistan Army, the Turkish government also approved a motion to deploy soldiers in Qatar for at least six months to provide security during FIFA World Cup 2022.

"Turkish Armed Forces elements to be deployed as part of the task will be under national command throughout the entire assignment," read the memorandum.

The prime agenda behind a multi-country security level assistance for the event is to take counter measures against various threats, especially terrorism, which may affect the security of the Operation World Cup Shields.

Other than Pakistan and Turkey, the US, the UK, France, and Italy are also part of the security-assisting countries at military levels for the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Moreover, the Qatar government has also called back hundred of civilians, including diplomats, for mandatory military service to ensure complete security at checkpoints in and around World Cup stadiums.