ISLAMABAD: Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who also serves as the Supreme Commander of the Jordanian Armed Forces, visited the Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) facility and the Tilla Field Firing Range on Monday, where he reviewed Pakistan’s defence preparedness and expressed admiration for the country’s military capabilities.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), King Abdullah II was accompanied by Princess Salma bint Abdullah II and a high-level Jordanian civil and military delegation. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with senior Pakistani military leaders, accorded a warm welcome to the visiting monarch.
During a detailed briefing at GIDS, the King was informed about Pakistan’s defence production structure, technological advancements, and the latest indigenous systems. The briefing highlighted Pakistan’s progress toward self-reliance in defence technologies and underscored the wide potential for expanded defence cooperation between Pakistan and Jordan.
King Abdullah II later visited the Tilla Field Firing Range, where Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was also in attendance. Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defence Industry, Vugar Mustafayev, joined the dignitaries for the visit.
The royal guests witnessed a joint fire-and-manoeuvre exercise featuring ground and air firepower, integrated land operations, spectrum warfare capabilities, and the deployment of advanced multi-purpose drones in diverse operational roles.
King Abdullah II commended the high standards of training, professional excellence, and operational readiness of the Pakistan Army. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan holds deep respect and affection for King Abdullah II and the people of Jordan, adding that the visit reflects the enduring friendship, mutual trust, and shared commitment to peace and development between the two nations.
Field Marshal Asim Munir highlighted the strong defence partnership between Pakistan and Jordan, reaffirming Pakistan’s resolve to enhance military cooperation and advance the shared vision of a peaceful region.
Earlier, King Abdullah II conferred the Order of Military Merit (First Degree) on Field Marshal Asim Munir in recognition of his contributions to strengthening military ties between the two countries.
The Jordanian monarch arrived in Islamabad on Sunday for a two-day official visit. At the Aiwan-e-Sadr, he met President Asif Ali Zardari, who was joined by First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and Senator Sherry Rehman.
President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further deepening the longstanding fraternal ties with Jordan. Both leaders agreed to expand bilateral cooperation into new sectors and exchanged views on developments in the Middle East, expressing joint support for regional peace and stability.
The two leaders also reiterated the call for the establishment of an independent, viable Palestinian state under the two-state solution.
During the meeting, the President presented King Abdullah II with Pakistan’s highest civil award, Nishan-e-Pakistan. In return, King Abdullah II bestowed upon President Zardari the Wasam al-Nahda al-Marso’a (Order of the Renaissance), a distinguished honour awarded to heads of state and eminent personalities.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, members of the federal cabinet, and foreign diplomats.
King Abdullah II’s two-day state visit is widely regarded as a significant milestone in reinforcing the historic brotherly relations between Pakistan and Jordan.
