Michael
VIP Member
On May 15, 2026, Beijing Language and Culture University released a very interesting piece of news. The original text is in Chinese; interested readers can click here: Link.
Summary:
In late 2025, SUPARCO approached the Confucius Institute in Islamabad to seek assistance, requesting that they specially organize a short-term Chinese language training course for a group of pilots.
* The Islamabad Confucius Institute was established by the Chinese government and is jointly administered by Beijing Language and Culture University and the National University of Modern Languages (Pakistan).
The training course was conducted at the Confucius Institute in Islamabad. It was primarily led by Aslan Mahmood, a local Pakistani instructor at the Institute who is a graduate of Beijing Language and Culture University. The course was originally scheduled to last one month; however, at the students' own request, it was extended to one and a half months.
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The Pakistani pilots participating in this Chinese language training are, in fact, the very pilots undergoing Pakistan's astronaut selection process. This group includes the two Pakistani astronauts who ultimately passed the selection and proceeded to the China Astronaut Research and Training Center for training.
To date, this appears to be the only publicly released photograph of this specific group.
* It should be noted that this short-term Chinese training time is far from enough. Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud will need to undergo further intensive Chinese training and education during their training period in China.
Summary:
In late 2025, SUPARCO approached the Confucius Institute in Islamabad to seek assistance, requesting that they specially organize a short-term Chinese language training course for a group of pilots.
* The Islamabad Confucius Institute was established by the Chinese government and is jointly administered by Beijing Language and Culture University and the National University of Modern Languages (Pakistan).
The training course was conducted at the Confucius Institute in Islamabad. It was primarily led by Aslan Mahmood, a local Pakistani instructor at the Institute who is a graduate of Beijing Language and Culture University. The course was originally scheduled to last one month; however, at the students' own request, it was extended to one and a half months.
=========================================================
The Pakistani pilots participating in this Chinese language training are, in fact, the very pilots undergoing Pakistan's astronaut selection process. This group includes the two Pakistani astronauts who ultimately passed the selection and proceeded to the China Astronaut Research and Training Center for training.
To date, this appears to be the only publicly released photograph of this specific group.
* It should be noted that this short-term Chinese training time is far from enough. Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud will need to undergo further intensive Chinese training and education during their training period in China.
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