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With gratitude: Col Andrew Sims is conferred with the award of Sitara-e-Eisaar by Babar Malik, High Commissioner for Pakistan.
Photo by LS Yuri Ramsey |
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Personal touch: Pte Smiley Billings talks to a child near Dhannim during Operation Pakistan Assist (left).
Photo by Cpl Neil Ruskin |
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“I think this is just a token of our appreciation for the ADF ... It does not in anyway repay the great job that they’ve done there, and as far as we are concerned, they have won our hearts forever.
Brig Malik Imran, Defence Adviser to the Pakistani High Commissioner |
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THE Australian commander who led the relief mission in Pakistan was presented with an award at the Pakistani Embassy in Canberra.
The High Commissioner for Pakistan, Babar Malik, presented Col Andrew Sims with the Sitara-e-Eisaar (Star of Sacrifice) in January for his meritorious services following the earthquake in October 2005.
“It’s a great honour for me to have given this award on behalf of the President and government of Pakistan to Col Sims who has done a remarkable job in the northern regions of Pakistan,” Mr Babar Malik said.
The High Commissioner said the contingent members touched the lives of thousands of people in northern Pakistan who still remembered them fondly.
The embassy staff’s generous hospitality during the ceremony was a reflection of their appreciation for the members of Operation Pakistan Assist.
“This is just a manifestation of our deep gratitude from the people of Pakistan for Col Sims, the ADF and the people of Australia,” he said.
Col Sims did not expect such accolades, but said the award showed the contribution of the Australian members were truly felt by the people of Pakistan.
“The guys did it very well and that just showed me how well our soldiers, sailors and airmen are trained; they just did a wonderful job,” Col Sims said.
After the ceremony, CDF ACM Angus Houston said he was uplifted following his two visits to Op Pakistan Assist.
“I saw young Australians delivering outstanding medical support to the local people and I also saw very competent and capable helicopter crews flying in very challenging conditions,” ACM Houston said.
“This is an award that is richly deserved and I think Col Sims did an outstanding job in very demanding circumstances.”
CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy described the award as a great result for the “commitment by all those back here and all those who deployed forward”.
“I’m very pleased that the government of Pakistan and the President have seen fit to honour not only Col Sims, but the whole task force,” Lt-Gen Leahy said.
“[Op Pakistan Assist] showed our versatility and our adaptability … and here we can use the weapons of war to support and help in humanitarian operations and I think that’s one of the things we’re very proud of.”
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