Shehbaz congratulates COAS for receiving top Saudi honour
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa was conferred with the King Abdulaziz Medal for making “significant contributions in defence cooperation” between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement on Sunday.
The army chief visited Saudi Arabia on an official tour, ISPR said. During the visit, Gen Bajwa called on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the kingdom’s first deputy prime minister and defence minister and General Fayyadh Bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, Chief of General Staff of the Saudi Armed Forces at Jeddah, on Sunday.
During the meetings, matters of mutual interest, bilateral defence and security cooperation and regional peace and stability were discussed.
The army chief said that Pakistan “values its historical and brotherly relations with the kingdom and acknowledges its unique place in the Islamic world”.
Both sides agreed upon enhancing defence cooperation in the fields of joint training, air defence, counter-terrorism and communication and information domain.
“They also agreed to further enhance cordial relations and deep spirit of brotherhood into enduring strategic partnership, being vital players in the region with significant responsibility towards unity of Muslim Ummah,” ISPR said.
Separately, the official Saudi Press Agency reported that Prince Mohammed conferred Gen Bajwa with the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class for his “distinguished efforts in consolidating and strengthening bonds of friendship and joint cooperation and developing Saudi-Pakistani relations”.
Gen Bajwa was received by Prince Mohammed, with whom a meeting was held on a host of issues, the SPA report said.
The meeting reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in the military fields, and opportunities for developing them. The two sides also deliberated upon a number of issues of common interest.
“In implementation of the order of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, HRH the Crown Prince decorated the Commander of the Pakistani Army with King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class in recognition of his distinguished efforts in consolidating and strengthening bonds of friendship and joint cooperation and developing Saudi-Pakistani relations,” the SPA said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa after the Pakistani Army Chief was decorated with the highest medal by the government of brotherly Saudi Arabia.
In a couple of tweets uploaded on Sunday, Shehbaz Sharif declared that Pakistan considers the security of Saudi Arabia as its own. “We are completely resolved to further cementing our multifaceted bilateral relationship including excellent defence cooperation,” he added.
Extending his heartiest congratulations to Army Chief General Bajwa, Shehbaz Sharif said “It is a great honour for the people and the armed forces of Pakistan. Heartiest congratulations to Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on conferment of King Abdulaziz Medal for his contributions to strengthening defence ties between our two brotherly countries.”
