RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir is on an official visit to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) from January 4 to 10, the Army’s media wing announced on Thursday.
This is General Munir’s first official visit outside Pakistan after assuming the post of Army Chief.
The Inter-Services Public Relations said that during the visit, the Army Chief will meet the top leadership of the two countries and discuss issues of mutual interest, military-to-military cooperation and security-related issues with a focus on bilateral relations.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Army Chief Asim Munir met Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman in Riyadh to discuss matters of mutual interest.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Saudi Minister congratulated General Asim Munir on his appointment as the new Army Chief.
“During the meeting, they emphasized the strength and sustainability of bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries, and discussed military and defense cooperation, and ways to support and enhance them, besides the most important areas of common interest. discussed regional and international issues,” SPA said.
Minister of Defense Receives Chief of Staff of Pakistani Army.https://t.co/2bLawXp3hC#SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/cJeLQw0hKi
— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) January 4, 2023
Later, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman also shared his picture with the visiting Army Chief.
“We emphasized the strategic partnership between our brother countries, reviewed bilateral military and defense ties, and discussed ways to strengthen our cooperation,” he tweeted.
Command conversion in GHQ
General Munir took over the command of Pakistan Army from General Qamar Javed Bajwa in a ceremony held at General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi in November last year.
With the change of command, General Munir became the 17th Army Chief.
General Munir was commissioned in the 23rd Frontier Force Regiment in 1986. He passed out from the 17th Officers Training Course Mangala and was awarded the sword of honour.
Before assuming charge, he was posted as Quartermaster General at General Headquarters.
General Munir has also served as Directing Staff at Command and Staff College Quetta, Brigade Major of Infantry Brigade posted at Kiel, General Staff Officer, Grade 2, CGS Secretariat and Chief of Staff of Mangala Corps.
General Munir commanded the 23rd Frontier Force Regiment, Infantry Brigade, as Force Commander in Northern Territory, Gilgit.
The Army Chief has also been the Director General of Military Intelligence (MI).
In 2018, General Munir was appointed Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and was later transferred as Corps Commander Gujranwala.
After commanding Gujranwala Corps, he was posted as Quartermaster General which was his last assignment before becoming COAS.
General Munir graduated from Military School Japan, Command and Staff College Quetta, Malaysian Armed Forces College Kuala Lumpur and National Defense University Islamabad.
The General also holds an MPhil in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management from the National Defense University.
General Munir is the first Army Chief to head both MI and ISI. He is also the first Army Chief to be awarded the Sword of Honour.
General Munir is also an avid sportsman, an avid reader, traveler and Quran reciter.
