ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir on Thursday held a detailed meeting with his Saudi counterpart General Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, said the kingdom’s defense ministry, to discuss bilateral military cooperation between the two countries.
The two sides have maintained close strategic relations with each other for decades, allowing their governments to cooperate with each other in the fields of defense and diplomacy.
Pakistan has provided military training and advice to Saudi Arabia in the past while the kingdom has procured arms and ammunition produced at ordnance factories in the South Asian country.
“His Excellency the Chief of the General Staff, First Lieutenant General Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, receives His Excellency the Chief of Staff of the Pakistani Army, First Lieutenant General Asim Munir, and they review the bilateral relations between the two countries in the defense and military fields, in addition to discussing a number of issues of common concern,” said the Saudi defense ministry, along with pictures of the visit, in a Twitter post.
Pakistan’s new army chief began his first official visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday since his appointment to the post last November. During his weeklong visit to the Gulf region, he will also travel to the United Arab Emirates to interact its top civilian and military leadership.
Earlier, he also met with the Saudi defense minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, who congratulated the Pakistani general on his elevation to the new office.
According to the military’s media wing, ISPR, General Munir is visiting the two Arab countries to “discuss matters of mutual interest, military to military cooperation and bilateral relations focusing on security related subjects.”
