Islamabad: Pakistan’s Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said Pakistan is proud of its “special strategic and brotherly relationship” with the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The statement came as UAE’s Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al Jubeir called on the Pakistan Army Chief in Rawalpindi, the army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said on Thursday.
The two visiting dignitaries have assured complete support of their countries “to resolve the situation created by India’s unilateral steps in occupied Kashmir” in their meeting with Chief of Army Staff General (COAS) Qamar Bajwa, Pakistan state media reported.
Saudi Arabia as an important regional player is expected to contain the tensions and avoid a direct confrontation as the threat of war could engulf the whole region and not just Pakistan and India.
According to the official statement, matters of mutual interest including growing bilateral ties and the security situation in the region were also discussed.
During the meeting, General Bajwa praised the long-standing strategic ties between Pakistan and brotherly Muslim countries and the role they had played in maintaining strategic balance in South Asia. The foreign ministers appreciated Pakistan’s role for peace and stability in the region.
Pakistan’s defence experts believe that the visit of two allied foreign ministers would also strengthen already existing close defence ties between all three states. Both the leaders arrived together on Wednesday to reassure their support to Pakistan. They held detailed discussions with Prime Minister Imran Khan and formal talks with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi at the foreign office.
Pakistan’s defence experts also say the visit of two allied foreign ministers would strengthen already close defence ties between all three states.
On July 31, 2019 when Saudi Military Adviser to Minister of Defence Major General Talal Abdullah Al Otaibi called on Pakistan’s army chief, both sides agreed to adopt a common approach to address challenges faced by Muslim countries. In that meeting Gen Bajwa had said Pakistan greatly values its historic defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia and that Pakistan Army stands with Saudi Armed Forces in all fields.
