Saudi Arabia awards King Abdulaziz Medal to Field Marshal Asim Munir

WEB DESK: Saudi Arabia has awarded the prestigious King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class to Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in recognition of his role in deepening bilateral ties between Islamabad and Riyadh.

The honour was conferred by Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz during a meeting held in the Saudi capital, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The medal acknowledges Field Marshal Munir’s “notable contributions” towards strengthening strategic cooperation and advancing defence relations between the two longstanding partners.

During the ceremony, Prince Khalid extended his congratulations to Field Marshal Munir on his recent appointment as Pakistan’s chief of defence forces and conveyed best wishes for his success in the expanded role. The meeting also provided an opportunity for both sides to reflect on the historical foundations of Saudi-Pakistani relations and review ongoing collaboration in the defence sector.

Official accounts stated that discussions focused on enhancing military cooperation, reinforcing regional and international security, and exploring shared interests in maintaining peace and stability. Both delegations reaffirmed their commitment to working closely on defence and strategic matters amid evolving regional challenges.

Separately, Prince Khalid highlighted the significance of the award in a message posted on social media platform X, noting that the medal was presented on the directive of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. He said the honour recognised Field Marshal Munir’s efforts to expand bilateral cooperation and further cement Saudi-Pakistani relations.

According to Saudi media, the King Abdulaziz Medal is one of the kingdom’s highest civilian honours and is divided into five categories: excellent, first, second, third and fourth class. It is typically bestowed upon individuals who have rendered exceptional services to Saudi Arabia or contributed meaningfully to its national interests.

The award comes against the backdrop of steadily expanding defence ties between the two countries. Earlier this year, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, under which any attack on one country would be considered an act of aggression against both.

In recent months, senior Saudi military leadership has also expressed a desire to elevate defence and strategic cooperation with Pakistan. On December 3, Field Marshal Munir himself voiced satisfaction over the “robust and growing defence collaboration” between the two allies, underscoring the momentum in bilateral relations.