Saudi Arabia has awarded the prestigious King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class to Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, recognising his role in strengthening defence and strategic ties between Islamabad and Riyadh.
Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz conferred the honour during a meeting in the Saudi capital, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The award acknowledges Field Marshal Munir’s notable contributions towards expanding bilateral cooperation and reinforcing long-standing defence relations between the two countries.
During the meeting, Prince Khalid congratulated 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. Both sides recalled the deep historical roots of Saudi-Pakistani relations and reviewed the progress of ongoing military and defence collaboration.
Official statements said the discussions focused on enhancing military cooperation, strengthening regional and international security, and coordinating on shared strategic interests. The two delegations reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination on defence matters amid shifting regional dynamics.
Separately, Prince Khalid highlighted the importance of the award in a message posted on social media platform X. He said the medal was presented on the directive of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and recognised Field Marshal Munir’s efforts to further cement Saudi-Pakistani relations and expand bilateral defence cooperation.
Saudi media reports describe the King Abdulaziz Medal as one of the kingdom’s highest civilian honours. The award has five categories: excellent, first, second, third and fourth class. Authorities usually bestow it on individuals who render exceptional services to Saudi Arabia or make significant contributions to its national interests.
The honour comes at a time when defence ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia continue to expand. Earlier this year, both countries signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement under which an attack on one state would be treated as aggression against both.
Senior Saudi military leaders have also expressed interest in further elevating strategic and defence cooperation with Pakistan. On December 3, Field Marshal Asim Munir welcomed the steady growth in defence collaboration between the two allies, reflecting the growing momentum in bilateral relations.
