Pakistan’s Army Chief Meets Saudi, Turkish Officials in Istanbul

Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, held a series of high-level meetings with Saudi and Turkish officials during his official visit to Türkiye, the military’s media wing said on Monday.

According to the statement, CDF Asim Munir separately met Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Turkish National Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of the Turkish General Staff Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu in Istanbul. The discussions focused on matters of mutual interest, bilateral defence cooperation and the regional security situation.

COAS also attended a meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee established under the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence, which brings together Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. The three countries reviewed ways to further strengthen strategic coordination and defence cooperation during the meeting.

The engagements reflected the close bonds of brotherhood and growing strategic and defence cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, the statement added.

The meetings came as senior officials from the three countries gathered in Istanbul for discussions on regional security and collective defence cooperation. Earlier, the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee began in Istanbul, bringing together senior political and military officials from Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir are representing Pakistan at the high-level trilateral meeting. Foreign and defence ministers, along with chiefs of general staff, from Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are also attending the meeting.