KARACHI: Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Abu Dhabi’s Qasr al Shati Palace and reviewed bilateral cooperation and military ties between the two countries, UAE’s state news agency WAM reported on Tuesday.

The army chief who is on a seven-day official trip to Saudi Arabia and the UAE arrived in the country on Monday.

The two reviewed bilateral cooperation and military ties and discussed ways to strengthen them for the mutual benefit of the two countries, WAM added.

The UAE president also congratulated the COAS on assuming the command of the Pakistan Army and wished him luck in his new duties, WAM reported.

The meeting was also attended by the UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other high-ranking members of the royal family as well as military officials.

The meeting came a day after COAS General Munir met Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

The meeting between the two took place at the crown prince’s winter camp in the Saudi city of Al Ula, around 1,000km northwest of the capital Riyadh.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the COAS and the crown prince reviewed bilateral relations and ways to enhance them further.

The two also discussed issues of mutual concern, SPA added.

According to reports, the army chief also performed umrah on Monday with social media videos showing him entering the Holy Kaaba where he reportedly offered prayers.

Last week, the COAS met Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and discussed the ways of strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

The SPA said that the two leaders, during the meeting, emphasised the strength and durability of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2023