Pakistan, Jordan discuss defense cooperation amid flurry of high-level contacts

Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir meets the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordan Armed Forces, Major General Yousef Ahmed A. Al Huneiti (left), in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on December 25, 2025. (PTV News) 
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Updated 26 December 2025
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Pakistan, Jordan discuss defense cooperation amid flurry of high-level contacts

  • Field Marshal Asim Munir hosted Maj Gen Yousef Ahmed A. Al Huneiti of Jordan in Rawalpindi
  • Munir visited Amman in October, followed by King Abdullah II’s trip to Pakistan the next month

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir met the chairman of Jordan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff on Thursday to discuss defense and military cooperation, the Pakistani military said in a statement, amid a recent uptick in high-level engagement between the two countries.

Major General Yousef Ahmed A. Al Huneiti, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordan Armed Forces, called on Munir at Pakistan’s military headquarters in Rawalpindi, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

“During the meeting, both sides discussed matters of mutual interest, regional security dynamics, and avenues for enhanced bilateral defense and military cooperation,” ISPR said.

“Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening defense ties with Jordan and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to address evolving security challenges,” it added.

The meeting follows a series of senior-level interactions between the two countries this year. Munir paid an official visit to Jordan in October, while Jordan’s military leadership has also engaged with Pakistan’s top brass in recent months.

In November, Jordan’s King Abdullah II visited Pakistan for talks with the country’s civilian and military leadership.

Pakistan and Jordan have long maintained cordial relations, including defense cooperation and military training links, though senior-level exchanges have been relatively infrequent.

Both countries were also among eight Muslim-majority states whose top leaders participated in discussions with United States President Donald Trump in September on proposals aimed at ending the war in Gaza and issued joint statements with other countries over the situation in West Asia in recent months.

ISPR said the meeting concluded with a shared resolve to further deepen military-to-military cooperation between Pakistan and Jordan.


Pakistan awards 11 onshore oil and gas blocks to boost domestic production

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Pakistan awards 11 onshore oil and gas blocks to boost domestic production

  • Pakistan has faced a widening energy gap due to rising demand, limited domestic output, forcing it to import costly fuels
  • Successful joint venture partners include state-run enterprises as well as local and international explorations companies

KARACHI: Pakistan has awarded 11 onshore oil and gas blocks for exploration to state-owned and private firms to boost domestic production and reduce reliance on costly energy imports, the Pakistani information ministry said on Thursday.

Pakistan has faced a widening energy gap due to rising demand and limited domestic output, forcing it to import costly fuels and expose the economy to global price swings. Its petroleum, oil, and lubricants import bill fell 4.39 percent to $9.046 billion in July 2025-January 2026.

On Thursday, the Petroleum Division signed petroleum concession agreements (PCAs) and exploration licenses (ELs) to award 11 onshore blocks for exploration, marking a significant step forward in advancing oil and gas exploration activities across the South Asian country.

The successful joint venture partners include the state-run Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Mari Energies Limited (MariEnergies), Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL) and Prime Global Energies (Prime).

“Signing of agreements demonstrate strong investor confidence in Pakistan’s upstream potential,” Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said, adding it aimed to boost domestic exploration, attract investment and reduce reliance on imported energy.

MariEnergies will serve as operator for six blocks. The company has secured 100 percent working interest in five blocks, including Padag, Chagai, Dalbandin, Merui, and Merui West, and will lead the Ahmad Wal block as operator with a 60 percent working interest, alongside the

Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) that will be holding 40 percent.

OGDCL will operate three blocks, including Kalat North with 100 percent working interest. It will also lead two joint venture blocks: Naing Sharif (OGDCL 70 percent as operator, Prime 30 percent) and Khiu-II (OGDCL 60 percent as operator, MariEnergies 40 percent).

PPL emerged as the highest bidder for the Kalat South block and will operate it with a 40 percent working interest, in partnership with OGDCL (30 percent) and MariEnergies (30 percent). POL secured the Jherruk block with 100 percent working interest.

“The minimum committed investment by the successful bidders exceeds USD31 million (approximately Rs8.66 billion) over the next three years,” the information ministry said. “In addition, more than Rs276 million ($987,133) has been committed toward social welfare initiatives in the respective areas.”

In the event of commercial hydrocarbon discoveries, substantial additional investments amounting to millions of dollars are anticipated for field development and production activities, according to the ministry.

Pakistan has announced new oil and gas discoveries in recent months. Islamabad this month announced a discovery at an exploratory well that produced 225 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) and 1.01 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas.

In January, a discovery regarding an exploratory well, flowing at the rate of 4,100 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) and 10.5 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas, was made in Kohat. In September 2025, Pakistan Petroleum Limited announced a discovery in Attock district, while Mari Energies reported a new gas find in North Waziristan.

“Recent discoveries would lead to further investments in development and production, create employment opportunities, stimulate economic activity in the regions and will contribute meaningfully to reducing reliance on imported energy,” Malik added.