Riyadh/Islamabad, Dec 22 (.) Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz decorated Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) – Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir with the country’s highest honour ‘King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class’ on the Decree of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Taking to X, Salman wrote: “Upon the directive of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, I presented Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, with the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class for his distinguished efforts to enhance our cooperation and advance the Saudi-Pakistani relations.”
The development comes after the two sides reached a mutual defence agreement back in September this year, under which an attack on one would be deemed an attack on both, leading to an increase in both investment pledges, and cooperation in regional affairs – specifically relating to security threats in West Asia.
Releasing a statement, the Pakistan military’s media wing the Inter-Services-Public-Relations (ISPR), said that Munir met the KSA’s Defence Minister during an official visit to Riyadh, and his first foreign visit after being given the title of CDF.
In his new capacity as both the supreme military commander of Pakistan military, and virtually the overlord of the Islamic Republic, Munir and Salman engaged in bilateral discussions, covering various matters of mutual interest.
As per the ISPR, this includes defence and military cooperation, strategic collaboration and “evolving geopolitical challenges”, as the two sides reaffirmed the “deep-rooted, historic, and brotherly relations” between Islamabad and Riyadh.
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