Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir is currently on an official visit to Egypt, where he held meetings with senior defense and military leadership to strengthen bilateral cooperation, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.
During the visit, Gen. Munir met Egypt’s Minister of Defense General Abdul Maged Sagar and Lt. Gen. Ahmed Khalifa Fatehi, Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces. Discussions focused on regional security, counterterrorism collaboration, and matters of mutual strategic interest.
Describing Egypt as a “brotherly country,” the Pakistani army chief highlighted that enhanced defense cooperation would contribute not only to the security of both nations but also to peace and stability in the wider region.
“The visit is aimed at enhancing military cooperation and defense collaboration between the two brotherly countries,” the ISPR said.
Gen. Munir was accorded a ceremonial guard of honor at Egypt’s Ministry of Defense. He also laid floral wreaths at the Memorial of the Unknown Soldier and the grave of former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.
The COAS also met Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, where discussions centered on global challenges facing the Muslim community.
According to ISPR, Gen. Munir stressed the need to counter extremist narratives and misinterpretations of Islam.
Pakistan and Egypt maintain cordial diplomatic and defense relations, with both sides strengthening collaboration in recent years. Military delegations from the two countries frequently meet to review security developments. In July, Pakistan’s Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, visited Cairo for the third round of defense and security talks.
Beyond defense cooperation, Islamabad and Cairo have also explored joint initiatives in agriculture, food security, and trade promotion, with Pakistan showing interest in Egypt’s modern farming technologies.
Earlier on Thursday Pakistan banned the far-right Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) under anti-terrorism laws, following deadly clashes during anti-Israel protests near Lahore that left at least five people dead.
The decision, announced after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, marks the second time authorities have outlawed the group, which has led some of the country’s most violent protests in recent years.
