COAS Munir, UK army chief discuss measures to elevate defence relations

• COAS Munir holds meeting with UK army chief Gen Sanders.
• Addresses 6th Pakistan-UK Regional Stabilisation Conference.
• It is flagship defence, security dialogue between two countries.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir held a meeting with United Kingdom's Chief of the General Staff (CGS) General Patrick Sanders, said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday. 

According to the military's media wing, the two sides discussed matters of professional interest and measures to further elevate bilateral defence relations. 

The development comes after both dignitaries addressed the opening session of the sixth Pakistan-UK Regional Stabilisation Conference at National Defence University in Islamabad on Tuesday. It was also attended by designate CGS UK Army General Sir Roland Walker.

Pakistan-UK Stabilisation Conference is the flagship defence and security dialogue between the two countries, held alternately in Pakistan and UK, bringing together a formidable corpus of subject matter experts in diverse domains including diplomats, defence officials, intellectuals and civil society representatives.

In connection with this conference, a 30-member UK delegation, is visiting Pakistan from April 29 to May 3, led by Standing Joint Force Commander Major General Tom Bateman. 

During the Conference, delegations from both sides will exchange perspectives on global and regional environment and its impact on national security, and, regional peace and stability.

This year, the scope of discussion has been expanded from bilateral to regional issues and defence officials of both countries from the region are also participating in the conference.

COAS Munir also thanked General Sanders for his services in enhancing bilateral military ties and felicitated General Walker on his nomination as the next CGS of UK Army.