Pakistan Chief of Defence Force Asim Munir received the highest national honour from Saudi Arabia. Munir was conferred the King Abdulaziz Medal for his efforts to take forward Pakistan–Saudi Arabia ties.
Munir was visiting Islamic countries and arrived in Saudi Arabia on an official visit. Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister, Crown Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, conferred on him the highest national honour.
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According to the Saudi Press Agency, Munir was conferred the “King Abdulaziz Medal of the First Class.” As per the Saudi gazette, the medal has five categories-Excellence, First, Second, Third, and Fourth Class. Munir was given the second-level star.
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Munir got the honour after receiving the direction of king Salman on Sunday. The honour came after the two nations signed a defence pact in the lines of NATO. Under this agreement, both countries have mutually agreed that an attack on either one of them will be considered an attack on both, and they will jointly respond to it.
In September, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had said that Pakistan would make nuclear weapons available to Saudi Arabia if required.
After being elevated to the rank of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Asim Munir is now being considered the most powerful person in Pakistan. The post of CDF was created to ensure better coordination among the Pakistani Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Saudi Arabia aims to strengthen its relations in the fields of economy, religion, and defence security. The kingdom has helped Pakistan financially on multiple occasions in the past.
In a released statement, the Pakistan Army said that conferring the highest honour on Asim Munir reflects the deepening ties between the two nations and strengthens strategic cooperation for regional and global peace.
The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is taking the nation forward by strengthening bilateral relations with several countries. He is aware of the security challenges in the region and is strategically coordinating with nations that have the capability to defend themselves. Pakistan is a long-time ally of Saudi Arabia, and the country possesses nuclear weapons. The Crown Prince’s generosity towards Pakistan is part of a long-term strategic plan.