Pakistan Army chief, Saudi Arabian envoy discuss defence cooperation

Rawalpindi: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa said during discussions with Saudi Arabian envoy Abdullah Marzouk Al - zahrani that the Pakistan Army held the defence of Saudi Arabia "at par with its own".

"Mr Abdullah Marzouk Al - zahrani, Ambassador of Kingdom of, met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at GHQ today. Issues of bilateral relations including defence and training cooperation remained focus of the discussion. COAS reassured the Ambassador that Pakistan Army holds the defence of KSA at par with its own," said a statement from the ISPR (Inter Services Public Relations).

Earlier, Gen Bajwa, who became the army chief in November last year, had gone on a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia in December.

In his meeting with Saudi deputy crown prince and defence minister Muhammad bin Salman, the army chief had "reiterated Pakistan`s commitment to the security and protection of the holy mosques and also the territorial integrity of the kingdom".