Daily Times

RIYADH/ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his ‘unannounced’ visit to Saudi Arabia on Monday and discussed “issues of common interest between the two countries”.

During the meeting, the dignitaries reviewed bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, particularly in the military field. The meeting was attended by a number of officials, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The visit was particularly interesting as the military’s media wing, ISPR, didn’t issue any formal statement to the media.

On his arrival in Riyadh, Gen Qamar Bajwa was received by Commander of the Ground Forces Lieutenant General Prince Fahd bin Turki bin Abdulaziz.

On the occasion, the two exchanged views on bilateral ties, especially on the military relations. Prince Turki also hosted a luncheon in honour of the army chief. A number of officials attended the meeting, the SPA added.

The visit of the army chief comes only days after Saudi Ambassador in Pakistan Nawaf Saeed Al-Maliki called on him at the GHQ. “Issues of bilateral relations, including defence and training cooperation, remained focus of the discussion,” a statement issued by the ISPR after the meeting on October 13 read. The very next day, on October 14, Gen Qamar visited Dubai where he met Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum at the Zabeel Palace, according to Khaleej Times. Gen Qamar and Sheikh Mohammed discussed recent regional developments.

Published in Daily Times, October 18^th 2017.