Kazakh President Strengthens Strategic Partnership with Pakistan Army Chief
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomes Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir to Astana
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan met with General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Armed Forces, during his official visit to Astana on April 23. The meeting, which was reported by Akorda, focused on cooperation in defense, military education, and the overall development of bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Pakistan.
President Tokayev highlighted the strategic importance of Pakistan as a key partner in South Asia for Kazakhstan, noting the positive momentum in their bilateral ties. He emphasized the potential for strengthening economic cooperation, particularly in areas such as trade, transport, and logistics.
General Munir conveyed greetings from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and emphasized the positive trend in defense relations between the two countries. During his visit, he also met with Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu to discuss prospects for expanding transit and transport cooperation to enhance bilateral trade and business development.
In a separate meeting with Kazakh Defense Minister Colonel General Ruslan Zhaksylykov, General Munir discussed opportunities for knowledge and experience exchange in various military fields. The discussion also touched upon key areas of defense collaboration, including peacekeeping activities, military-technical cooperation, and combat training for special forces.
One of the highlights of the visit was Kazakhstan’s readiness to sign an international agreement on peacekeeping, signaling a significant step towards strengthening the partnership between the two countries. This high-level military visit marks the first of its kind between Kazakhstan and Pakistan in the last ten years, reflecting a growing interest in enhancing military cooperation.
General Munir’s visit concluded with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Otan Korgaushylar (Fatherland Defenders) monument to honor the heroism of Kazakh soldiers. The visit serves as a testament to the deepening ties between Kazakhstan and Pakistan in the realm of defense and security cooperation.
