ISLAMABAD: Senior generals from Pakistan and Malaysia on Wednesday vowed to strengthen military-to-military ties in the light of evolving regional and global situation, Pakistan’s military media wing said in a statement.

Pakistan and Malaysia have historically enjoyed close ties ever since they established diplomatic ties in 1957. Both countries have strengthened cooperation in various sectors such as defense, trade, economy, manpower exports and education over the years. 

The discussions took place while Malaysia’s chief of defense forces, General Tan Sri Hj Mohd Nizam bin Hj Jaffar, visited the Joint Staff Headquarters in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi city. There he met General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Pakistan’s chairman joint chiefs of staff committee (CJCSC) and held discussions on the evolving global and regional security environment. 

“Both sides held comprehensive discussions on the evolving global and regional security environment and underscored the importance of exploring new avenues for mutually beneficial cooperation in defense and security domains,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistani military’s media wing, said. 

“Both military leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the military-to-military relationship in the light of evolving regional security dynamics.”

Gen. Jaffar praised the professional standards of Pakistan’s armed forces and hailed their achievements in the fight against militancy, the ISPR said. 

Pakistan has sought to bolster its military ties with allies as regional tensions flare. The South Asian country earlier this month signed a landmark defense pact with Saudi Arabia, according to which an attack on one country will be considered an attack on both. 

The defense pact took place at a time of extreme volatility in the Middle East, where prolonged conflicts have heightened fears of wider instability, reinforcing the urgency Gulf states place on stronger security and defense partnerships.

It also happened as Pakistan’s tensions with India remain high, months after Islamabad reached a fragile ceasefire with its nuclear-armed neighbor after days of intense fighting in May that killed over 70 in both countries.