ISLAMABAD: Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa met Pakistan’s spy chief Lt. Gen. Asim Malik to discuss regional developments and ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, the state-run Bahrain News Agency (BNA) said on Sunday.
The meeting between the two officials took place at Riffa Palace in Bahrain, where Malik met senior officials from Bahrain, including the crown prince. Malik is currently the chief of Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the country’s National Security Adviser.
The Pakistani official called on Al Khalifa amid tensions between the United States (US) and Iran, with peace talks stalled and both sides warning each other against further escalation.
“The meeting also discussed ways to enhance cooperation, the latest regional and international developments, and matters of mutual interest,” the BNA said in a report.
The state-run outlet said the crown prince acknowledged the depth of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bahrain, noting that they continue to strengthen due to a shared commitment to further promote ties and achieve common goals.
Al Khalifa stressed the importance of continuing efforts to deepen joint coordination across various fields, saying it would contribute to the mutual prosperity and growth of both countries and their peoples.
“His Royal Highness highlighted Pakistan’s critical role, alongside its allies, in strengthening the foundations of regional security and stability,” the report said.
BNA said the Pakistani spy chief thanked Al Khalifa for his commitment to developing relations between the two countries.
Pakistan has sought closer economic and defense cooperation with Gulf allies since the Iran war began in February this year. Earlier this month, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement which stipulates that an attack against any one of these countries will be considered an attack against all three.
Bahrain is not only an important member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) but also a favored destination for thousands of Pakistani laborers who have visited the country since the early 1970s for work and education purposes.
