Islamabad: Pakistan and Oman have signed an agreement to boost military cooperation between the two brotherly countries.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is aimed at “enhancing defence cooperation through the exchange of knowledge and expertise in the field of military cooperation for mutual benefits”, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. The accord would help “contribute towards strengthening of Pakistan-Oman bilateral relations” particularly military collaboration.
The agreement was signed on October 20 by Mohamed bin Nasser Al Rasby, Secretary General, Ministry of Defence of Oman and Ahsan Wagan, Ambassador of Pakistan to Oman. The signing ceremony took place at the Sultanate of Oman’s Ministry of Defence headquarters in Muscat and was attended by Pakistan’s military attaché, Captain Kashif Farhan, in Sultanate of Oman.
The MoU aims to enhance the existing relations and serves the common interest of Pakistan and Oman, according to an official statement.
Pakistan-Oman strategic partners
Lieutenant General Ahmed Bin Harith Al Nabhani, Chief of Staff of Sultan’s Armed Forces of Oman visited Pakistan last year and held meetings with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa. PM Khan reiterated the resolve to further deepen bilateral cooperation in diverse fields. During his visit to Oman this year, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed hope that high-level interaction would improve bilateral ties.
Pakistan and Oman are strategic partners and have recently agreed to enhance cooperation in trade and economy under the framework of China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). A Pakistan-Oman Friendship group has also been established to improve people-to-people ties.
Pakistan is expanding military cooperation with the Middle East and Gulf states. Recently, Pakistan and Iraqi Air Force chiefs agreed to enhance security and defence cooperation.
