https://arab.news/9pa6t
- Both sides reaffirm resolve to boost security ties during General Sahir Shamshad Mirza’s visit
- Pakistan and Nigeria are members of Commonwealth and Organization of Islamic Cooperation
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, held high-level meetings with Nigeria’s defense minister and senior military leadership during an official visit to the African nation, with both sides agreeing to strengthen security cooperation, particularly in the field of counterterrorism, the Pakistani military said on Saturday.
Nigeria faces a range of counterterrorism challenges, primarily from Boko Haram and its affiliates, which have waged a years-long insurgency in the country’s northeast, marked by attacks, abductions and mass displacements.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has seen a resurgence in militant violence in its western provinces from groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Baloch Liberation Army, with officials in Islamabad blaming them for cross-border attacks from Afghanistan, a charge Kabul denies.
In a statement, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Mirza met with Nigeria’s defense minister as well as the chiefs of the army, navy and air force. The meetings focused on “challenges faced by both countries, especially in the domain of counterterrorism,” as well as broader defense cooperation and regional security.
“During the separately-held meetings, both sides engaged in discussions on challenges faced by both countries especially in the domain of Counter Terrorism (CT) and areas of mutual interest, including security, defense cooperation, and the evolving international / regional landscape,” the ISPR said.
“Both sides reaffirmed the resolve to further enhance defense and military collaboration between both militaries,” it added.
Pakistan and Nigeria have maintained bilateral relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1961. Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, sharing common interests in international forums.
Over the years, more than 2,000 Nigerian military personnel have received training in Pakistan, reflecting the scale of the defense collaboration between the two nations.
In recent years, Pakistan has also intensified its diplomatic and economic engagement with African nations under its “Engage Africa” policy, leading to the opening of new diplomatic missions across the continent to increase trade.