ISLAMABAD: The top military officials of Pakistan and Bahrain discussed regional security and ways to strengthen bilateral military cooperation to meet security challenges, Pakistan’s military said on Tuesday. 

General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, the commander of the National Guard of Bahrain, met Pakistan’s Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, said. 

Al Khalifa praised Pakistan Army’s professionalism and appreciated their efforts in combating “terrorism,” the ISPR said. 

“During the meeting, both leaders engaged in discussions on matters of mutual interest, the regional security landscape, and avenues for strengthening bilateral military cooperation,” the military’s media wing said. 

Munir underscored the significance of enhanced collaboration in addressing shared security challenges and fostering peace and stability in the region, the ISPR added. 

Bahrain is a key member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and a favorite destination for the Pakistani workforce since the early 1970s, according to Pakistan’s foreign ministry.

Pakistan enjoys cordial relations with Gulf countries and regularly partakes in bilateral military drills with them to foster joint cooperation to counter security challenges. 

Both countries have established a Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) at the level of the foreign ministers, with the Pakistan-Bahrain trade volume between $500 million and $1 billion in recent years, as per Pakistan’s foreign ministry.