Bahrain reaffirms special relationship with Pakistan

–Gulf state bestows COAS with Bahrain Order for significant contributions in defence cooperation

–US delegation visits GHQ for strategic level defence dialogue

RAWALPINDI: Bahrain has reaffirmed its special relationship with Pakistan and pledged to keep working for even better relations between the two brotherly countries.

These views were expressed by the Bahraini leadership during talks with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who paid a three-day (January 6-8) visit to Bahrain, a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday stated.

During his stay, the army chief called on Crown Prince of Bahrain Salman Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, Commander in Chief of Bahrain Defence Force Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and Commander Bahrain National Guard Lieutenant General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Isa Al Khalifa and discussed matters pertaining to bilateral defence and security cooperation and regional security situation.

Pakistan and Bahrain pledged to keep working for better relations between the two brotherly countries.

The army chief was presented with the Bahrain Order (First Class) by the Bahraini Crown Prince for making significant contributions in defence cooperation between the two countries.

COAS also witnessed the closing ceremony of Pakistan-Bahrain joint military exercise Al-Badar-V at Sakhir Camp. He appreciated the standard of training and the results attained. COAS Bajwa said that the exercise signifies the joint efforts of both nations against terrorism.

Separately, a United States delegation visited the General Headquarters (GHQ) on Thursday to hold formal consultations on Pakistan-US Strategic Level Defence Dialogue, said the ISPR.

The US delegation was headed by Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Assistant Secretary of Defence David Hevley, whereas Pakistan’s delegation was led by Chief of General Staff (COGS) Lt General Sahir Shamshad Mirza.

Both sides exchanged views on regional security, deepening bilateral defence and security ties, as well as military cooperation, the military’s media wing added.

According to the statement, David Hevley reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to a long-term, mutually beneficial security partnership with Pakistan and thanked Lt Gen Mirza for Pakistan’s pivotal role in supporting Afghanistan peace negotiations.

The US envoy discussed opportunities for strengthening cooperation on counterterrorism and the urgency of reducing violence, restarting meaningful negotiations between Islamic Republic negotiators and the Taliban.

A day before crucial intra-Afghan talks set to resume in Doha, the top US diplomat, spearheading peace efforts, visited Pakistan on January 4, and met COASBajwa and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director-General (DG) Lt Gen Faiz Hameed.

Soon after his meeting with the Pakistani authorities, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad called for a peace deal as well as a ceasefire at the earliest amid the continued violence in Afghanistan.

The meeting between Ambassador Khalilzad and the Pakistani military leadership focused on the “overall regional security situation with particular reference to ongoing Afghan reconciliation,” according to the official handout issued by the ISPR.