Pakistan army widens message from security to diplomacy, lauds Saudi defense pact
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army leadership on Wednesday linked national security with diplomatic outreach as it welcomed a new Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia, describing it as a step toward regional peace and joint defense cooperation.
Chaired by Field Marshal Asim Munir, the country’s army chief, the 272nd Corps Commanders’ Conference in Rawalpindi reviewed counterterrorism operations, the security environment and relations with neighboring countries and allies. In an unusual addition for a military statement, the communiqué issued after the meeting also referred to Pakistan’s “recent high-level diplomatic engagements,” underscoring the military’s growing and more transparent role in international affairs.
In recent months, Field Marshal Munir has played an unusually visible role in Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach, appearing alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in meetings with foreign leaders and envoys. He has also met US President Donald Trump twice in a matter of months — once jointly with Sharif and once separately — underscoring the military’s direct involvement in shaping Pakistan’s external engagements.
