COAS discusses matters of mutual interest with Saudi official

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Friday discussed matters of mutual interest and measures to improve bilateral defence collaboration including defence production and military training with Saudi Arabia, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

According to the the military's media wing, the army chief gave the assurance to Saudi Arabia’s Assistant Minister of Defence Major General (Engineer) Talal Bin Abdullah Al-Otaibi in a meeting held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

In the meeting, the COAS affirmed Pakistan Army’s continuing support towards capacity building of Royal Saudi Land Forces.

“The visiting dignitary acknowledged Pakistan Army's achievements and sacrifices in the war against terrorism and the army’s valuable contributions towards regional peace and stability,” said the ISPR.

Major General Al-Otaibi also co-chaired the fifth meeting of the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Defence Collaboration along with the Pakistan Army's chief of general staff at the GHQ.

“The forum discussed challenges to global and regional security and their implications on defence forces. Forum noted that rapid advancements in modern technologies necessitated defence industrial cooperation in critical capabilities between the two brotherly countries,” said the ISPR.

Both sides also reiterated their resolve to solidify the efforts in defence collaboration with a focused approach to target specific capabilities in land, air and sea domains.

“In this context, concrete proposals were deliberated by the forum to meet tangible objectives within specific timelines,” said the ISPR.

The Saudi major general’s visit to Pakistan comes soon after Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah’s two-day visit to Islamabad.