Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has awarded the King Abdulaziz Medal to Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa for making ‘significant contributions in defence cooperation’ between the two countries.
“This comes in recognition of Bajwa’s distinguished efforts in consolidating and strengthening bonds of friendship and joint cooperation and developing Saudi-Pakistani relations,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported today.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief visited Saudi Arabia on an official tour and called on the crown prince, who is also the kingdom’s first deputy prime minister and defence minister.
The two sides discussed matters of mutual interest, bilateral defence and security cooperation, and regional peace and stability. They 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,” the ISPR said.
Saudi Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant-General Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, and a number of senior officials from both sides were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the COAS for receiving the award and said: “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. It is a great honour for the people and the armed forces of Pakistan.”
