JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has conferred on Pakistan’s chief of army staff the Order of King Abdulaziz, an order of merit named after the Kingdom's founder, state media said on Sunday.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, implementing King Salman's order, decorated Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class, "in appreciation of Gen. Bajwa’s distinguished efforts in strengthening and developing Saudi-Pakistani relations," SPA reported.
The occasion was attended by Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi deputy minister of defense; Saudi Arabia’s Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili; and a number of senior officials from the two sides, said the report.
Bajwa was in the Kingdom on Saturday for a visit.
The crown prince and the Pakistani military chief also met and "reviewed bilateral relations, especially in the military fields, and opportunities for developing them, in addition to a number of issues of common interest," SPA said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Pakistan's army chief for the achievement, saying that "it is a great honour for the people and the armed forces of Pakistan."
PM Sharif also said Pakistan considers Saudi Arabia's security "as our own" and is resolved to cement the bilateral relationship with the kingdom.
Former information minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain wrote on Twitter that the award for the army chief is evidence of the close relationship that the armed forces of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy.
