Monitoring Desk
RIYADH: Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Asim Munir, who is currently visiting Saudi Arabia, on Sunday arrived in the Holy City of Makkah where the door of the Holy Kaaba – a cubical shrine that stands in the middle of Makkah’s Grand Mosque – was opened for him by the Saudi authorities in a display of extraordinary hospitality.
The COAS visited the interior of the Holy Kaaba and prayed for Pakistan’s security, defence, prosperity and national interests.
General Asim Munir is currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met Saudi senior civil and military leadership and discussed defence cooperation and bilateral ties.
Extraordinary cooperation in the defence and strategic sectors has been agreed upon during the meetings. With the relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia going back over 50 years, this is not the first time a Pakistani leader, either military or civilian, has picked the kingdom as their first destination after taking charge.
The COAS has held talks with top Saudi leadership, including Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Saudi Arabia’s Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Fayyaz Al-Walli, on his first official visit to the Gulf kingdom.
Army Chief discusses military cooperation
According to the Saudi Press Agency, General Asim Munir discussed military cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh on Thursday.
“We emphasised the strategic collaboration between our brotherly countries, reviewed the bilateral military and defence relations, and discussed ways of strengthening our cooperation,” Prince Khalid bin Salman tweeted.
Army Chief meets Saudi Chief of General Staff
Saudi Arabia’s Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Fayyaz Al-Walli, welcomed Pakistan’s Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir in Riyadh. Both the military heads held military-level talks to review bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries.
General Asim Munir, who took charge in November, followed in his predecessors’ footsteps in visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – a close defence and economic ally of Pakistan – on his maiden overseas visit. The COAS will also visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the nearly one-week official visit.
“Army Chief General Asim Munir will be meeting the senior leadership of both brotherly countries to discuss matters of mutual interest, military-to-military cooperation and bilateral relations focusing on security-related subjects,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said in a statement on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir reached Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip. According to the army’s media wing, the COAS is on an official visit to Saudi Arabia and UAE from January 4 to January 10.
In Saudi Arabia, Army Chief General Asim Munir receives more than usual recognition. After opening the door of Rasool’s shrine, the Saudi authorities opened the door of the holy Kaaba for him.
