ISLAMABAD (MNN); Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Sunday reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to expand military cooperation with Jordan and to jointly pursue the shared objective of a peaceful and stable region, the military’s media wing reported.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief highlighted the strong and longstanding defence partnership between Pakistan and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan during King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein’s visit to the Tilla Field Firing Ranges near Jhelum.
King Abdullah, who is on a two-day official visit to Pakistan, also toured the Global Industrial and Defence Solutions (GIDS) facility. He was accompanied by Princess Salma bint Abdullah II and a delegation of senior Jordanian civil and military officials. Field Marshal Munir and other Pakistani officials received the visiting dignitaries.
The ISPR said King Abdullah was briefed in detail on GIDS’ organisational structure, capabilities and product range. The presentation showcased Pakistan’s advancements in indigenous defence production, technological development and opportunities for greater defence cooperation between the two countries.
Later, King Abdullah visited the Tilla Field Firing Ranges where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also joined. Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defence Industry Vugar Valeh oglu Mustafayev was among the distinguished guests present at the event.
During the visit, the guests witnessed a joint fire and manoeuvre exercise demonstrating multi-domain military operations, including conventional and aerial firepower, coordinated ground manoeuvres, electronic and spectrum warfare, and the use of multi-role drones in several configurations. King Abdullah praised the professionalism, training standards and operational readiness of the participating troops and aircrews.
Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed Pakistan’s deep respect for King Abdullah and the people of Jordan, saying the visit reflects the historic friendship, mutual trust and the shared desire for regional peace and progress.
Earlier in the day, King Abdullah conferred the Order of Military Merit (First Degree) upon the COAS for his contributions to strengthening defence cooperation between Pakistan and Jordan. The ISPR noted that the royal visit marks an important step in further reinforcing historic ties between the two nations.
Separately, Pakistan awarded King Abdullah II the Nishan-i-Pakistan, the country’s highest civilian honour, during a special ceremony at the Presidency. President Asif Ali Zardari presented the honour, while the Jordanian monarch bestowed the Order of the Bejewelled Grand Cordon of Al-Nahda upon the Pakistani president.
The citation described King Abdullah as a visionary leader who has championed moderation, justice and dialogue, and whose leadership has made Jordan a symbol of stability and tolerance. It praised his efforts for a just resolution of the Palestinian issue and his role in the Gaza peace initiative. It also highlighted his steadfast support for Pakistan across political, defence, educational and cultural fields.
Later, King Abdullah and PM Shehbaz held a bilateral meeting at the PM House, where both leaders reaffirmed their rejection of any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. The Jordanian king acknowledged Pakistan’s support for Jordan’s humanitarian and regional stability efforts during the Gaza crisis. The meeting concluded with the signing of memorandums of understanding in media, culture and education.
