In a landmark development, China has, for the first time, selected two Pakistani astronauts to undergo training for its space missions. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the China Manned Space Agency, which described the move as a significant step forward in international cooperation aboard China’s space station.
According to an official statement, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud will soon travel to China as “reserve astronauts” to begin training at the country’s space station. Upon completion of all training and evaluation phases, one of them will be chosen as a payload specialist for a future mission. This would make him the first foreign astronaut to serve aboard China’s Tiangong space station.
The selection follows a cooperation agreement signed between China and Pakistan in Islamabad in February 2025, aimed at sending Pakistani astronauts to China’s space station. The two candidates were chosen after a rigorous three-stage selection process. The China Manned Space Agency noted that the inclusion and training of Pakistani astronauts marks a milestone in China’s space programme and stands as another successful example of the all-weather strategic partnership between China and Pakistan. Source: CGTN