Two Pakistani astronauts, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, have arrived in Beijing to commence training at the Astronaut Center of China, marking a significant milestone in the joint space cooperation between Pakistan and China.
Selected by the China Manned Space Agency as the first foreign participants in China’s human spaceflight training programme, the duo will undergo comprehensive training and evaluation. Following this process, one candidate is expected to be chosen as a payload specialist for a future mission, potentially becoming the first foreign astronaut to travel aboard China’s Tiangong space station.
State broadcaster CCTV confirmed that both candidates will engage in structured astronaut training in China, although no specific timeline for the mission has been announced. This initiative represents Pakistan’s inaugural formal involvement in astronaut training for a human spaceflight mission.
In a notable development earlier this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with the two astronauts in Islamabad before their departure, describing the programme as a landmark achievement for Pakistan’s space ambitions. Officials from the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission were also present at the meeting.
China’s space programme has seen steady growth in recent years, with the Tiangong space station now fully operational and hosting long-duration missions. Beijing aims to solidify its position as a key player in human space exploration.
If the Pakistani candidate is selected for the mission, it will highlight the deepening scientific collaboration between Islamabad and Beijing, as they work together on advancing space exploration capabilities.
