British Army Chief Meets Pakistan's Asim Munir, Vows To Boost Defence Ties Amid Tensions With India

British Army Chief General Roland Vincent Walker on Thursday met his Pakistani counterpart Asim Munir in the Army’s General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, and the two officers discussed ways to boost

bilateral defence cooperation.

According to a statement by the Pakistan Army, both sides discussed matters of mutual interest, regional security and measures to further enhance bilateral defence cooperation between the UK and Pakistan. General Walker also took note of the Pakistan Army’s ‘achievements’ in combating terrorism.

Munir last met General Walker during his five-day official visit to the UK in February, where he delivered a keynote address at the annual 7th Regional Stabilisation Conference at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst.

This marks a rapprochement between the Western countries and Islamabad, particularly in the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after the barbaric terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 tourists were killed.

The British Army Chief’s visit followed a growing bonhomie between the US and Pakistan, with Asim Munir receiving praise from US President Donald Trump for backing his unsubstantiated claim of brokering a ceasefire with India. The US and Pakistan signed a trade agreement aimed at opening Pakistan’s largely untapped oil reserves to US investment and lowering tariffs for Islamabad.

The Pahalgam terror attack prompted an Indian military response under Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror hideouts in Pakistan and eliminated over 100 terrorists. A military confrontation broke out where Pakistan targeted Indian military and civilian assets, all of which were thwarted by the Indian Armed Forces.

The two sides reached an understanding on May 10 to halt the cross-border hostilities, for which Donald Trump has repeatedly taken credit for. While India repeatedly emphasised that no third power intervened in the ceasefire, Pakistan quickly gave credit to Trump and nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize in a bid to curry Washington’s favour.

Trump’s intensifying ties with Pakistan are notable because he has previously called the country “a terrorist safe haven” that has deceived the US.

(with inputs from PTI)