Egypt and Pakistan are strengthening their military cooperation as Egypt’s Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Minister of Defense and Military Production, Gen. Abdel Mageed Saqr, met with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir and his accompanying delegation, who are currently visiting Cairo.
According to a statement by the Egyptian Armed Forces’ spokesman on Friday, the meeting discussed several issues of mutual interest in light of efforts to enhance military relations between the Egyptian and Pakistani armed forces, as well as shared views on frameworks supporting international peace and security.
Gen. Saqr expressed his “appreciation for the close ties between the armed forces of both countries,” emphasizing “the importance of bolstering efforts to achieve security and stability amid the rapid changes on the regional and international scenes.”
Gen. Munir, for his part, affirmed Pakistan’s “commitment to further strengthening military cooperation with Egypt in the coming period,” praising Cairo’s “pivotal role in laying the foundations for just peace in the Middle East.”
Separately, Egypt’s Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Khalifa, also met with Gen. Munir. An official reception was held for the Pakistani delegation at the Defense Ministry headquarters, where the national anthems of both countries were played. The talks focused on ways to enhance cooperation and exchange expertise across various military fields.
Lt. Gen. Khalifa underlined “the importance of coordinating efforts to support military cooperation and the exchange of experience between the two armed forces,” while Gen. Munir voiced his “keenness to deepen military ties with Egypt,” expressing appreciation for the “distinguished relations between the two countries’ militaries.” The meeting was attended by several senior Egyptian and Pakistani officers.
On Thursday, Gen. Munir also met with Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb at Al-Azhar headquarters in Cairo, where he commended Al-Azhar’s “role in promoting the values of brotherhood and positive coexistence among societies.”
He noted that “the Islamic world is facing several crises and challenges, foremost among them the spread of extremist groups that distort religious texts to justify their extremism and tarnish the true image of Islam,” stressing that “Islam is a religion of tolerance and peace.”
El-Tayeb said Al-Azhar currently hosts 254 Pakistani students enrolled in various educational stages, including 162 on full scholarships offered by the institution.
He affirmed Al-Azhar’s readiness to expand these scholarships “to meet the needs of the Pakistani people and contribute to promoting social peace, coexistence, and acceptance of others.”
Last month, Egyptian and Pakistani officials also discussed strengthening cooperation in military manufacturing.
Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Salah El-Din Mostafa met with Pakistan’s Ambassador to Cairo, Aamir Shaukat, and highlighted the “strong and long-standing ties between Egypt and Pakistan, which are witnessing remarkable development under the leadership of both countries.”
He also praised the “Joint Strategic Defense Agreement” signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, aimed at enhancing defense cooperation between the two nations.
In July, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi held talks in Cairo with Pakistan’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza.
The discussions focused on “ways to strengthen cooperation, particularly in military and security fields, and on sharing expertise in combating terrorism and extremism,” reflecting the “mutual strategic interests” of Egypt and Pakistan.
