Pakistan, Bahrain military leaders discuss regional security, bilateral cooperation

In this handout picture provided by Inter Service Public Relations on March 18, 2025, Commander of the National Guard of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Gen. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa (left), meets Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. (ISPR)
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Updated 18 March 2025
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Pakistan, Bahrain military leaders discuss regional security, bilateral cooperation

  • General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, commander of National Guard of Bahrain, meets Pakistan’s army chief
  • General Syed Asim Munir stresses importance of collaborating to address shared security challenges, maintaining regional peace

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. 
 


Pakistani president arrives in Iraq to deepen trade, energy cooperation

Updated 20 December 2025
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Pakistani president arrives in Iraq to deepen trade, energy cooperation

  • Visit follows recent high-level contacts as Islamabad seeks to expand limited commercial ties with Baghdad
  • Talks are expected to cover investment, manpower and facilitation of Pakistani pilgrims visiting holy sites in Iraq

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Iraq on Saturday on an official visit aimed at expanding cooperation in trade, energy and investment, as Pakistan seeks to deepen ties with Baghdad after years of limited engagement.

Pakistan and Iraq established diplomatic relations in 1947 and have traditionally maintained cordial ties, though commercial links remain modest, with officials and business groups identifying scope for cooperation in construction services, pharmaceuticals, manpower and agricultural exports.

“President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Baghdad on a four-day official visit to Iraq,” his office said in a post on X. “He was received by Culture Minister Dr. Ahmed Fakkak Al-Badrani. During the visit, meetings with senior Iraqi leadership are expected to advance cooperation and further strengthen Pakistan-Iraq relations.”

Zardari’s visit follows a series of recent high-level contacts between the two countries, reflecting efforts to broaden bilateral engagement beyond traditional diplomatic ties and explore collaboration across economic, political and people-to-people domains.

According to Pakistan’s foreign office, the president is expected to hold meetings with Iraq’s senior leadership to discuss cooperation in various areas such as trade and investment, energy, technology, education and manpower.

He is also expected to discuss regional and international issues with Iraqi officials.

Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met his Iraqi counterpart, Abdul Ameer Al-Shammari, on the sidelines of meetings in Brussels, where both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on security and facilitate travel for Pakistani Shia pilgrims to Najaf and Karbala.

The two officials discussed measures to ensure the smoother movement of these pilgrims and their compliance with visa regulations.