Bahrain commander meets CDF Munir, discusses strengthening military collaboration: ISPR

RAWALPINDI: The commander of Bahrain’s National Guard, General Shaikh Mohammad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, discussed the strengthening of military collaboration with Pakistan in a meeting with Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Tuesday.

A press release issued on Tuesday by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the Bahraini commander called on CDF Munir at General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi today, where the two discussed “matters of mutual interest, [the] regional security environment, and avenues for enhanced bilateral defence and security cooperation”.

“Both dignitaries expressed satisfaction over the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and Bahrain and underscored the importance of further strengthening military-to-military collaboration,” the ISPR statement said.

Earlier, the commander also separately called on Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, and Chief of the Air Staff Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu.

The meeting at the Naval Headquarters focused on bilateral defence collaboration and regional security dynamics. The commander commended the Pakistan Navy’s constructive role in advancing cooperative maritime security across the region, expressing appreciation for its role as “the regional maritime security stabiliser”.

Meanwhile, during the meeting at Air Headquarters, the air chief highlighted Pakistan Air Force’s modernisation efforts, “including capability enhancement, infrastructure development, indigenisation, and advanced training reforms”, the statement said.

“Discussions focused on emerging defence technologies such as drones, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced sensors, and digital innovation, as well as evolving air defence challenges and integrated defence architectures,” added the military’s media wing.

The Bahraini commander appreciated the professionalism, operational readiness, and contributions of Pakistan’s armed forces towards regional peace and stability. He also praised the army’s modernisation initiatives and indigenous capabilities, expressing interest in further cooperation in training, emerging technologies, and capacity-building initiatives, according to the ISPR.

“The visit reflects the strong and enduring defence partnership between Pakistan and Bahrain and is expected to further advance bilateral military cooperation for the mutual benefit of both brotherly nations,” the statement said.

The discussions on security and defence cooperation come amid tensions in the Middle East, as a three-month long war between the United States and Iran remains unresolved by a fragile ceasefire. Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator in the conflict, having hosted a round of talks between the two sides in Islamabad in April and staying in the picture even after plans for a second round fell through.

In January, President Asif Ali Zardari met with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Manama, with the former reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to broadening cooperation between the two countries across political, economic, defence and cultural fields.

Last year in November, Prime Mini­ster Shehbaz Sharif, during a two-day visit to Bahrain, had reiterated Pakis­tan’s commitment to deepening ties with the kingdom.