Islamabad: Pakistan President Asif Ali
Zardari and visiting head of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces
today held a meeting here in which they "emphasised upon
further augmenting socio-economic, trade and defence ties
between the two countries".
"Pak-Saudi bilateral relations including defence
cooperation between the two countries were discussed during
the meeting," the President's office said in a statement.
Zardari hailed the contributions of Vice Admiral
Dakheel Allah Bin Ahmed Al Waqdani, the commander Royal Saudi
Naval Forces, in promoting and giving further impetus to
existing the relationship between the defence forces of the
two countries, the statement said.
The president said Pakistan values its cordial and
friendly equation with the brotherly Muslim country the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In reply, Vice Admiral Al Waqdani thanked the
president for the meeting and expressed the hope that the
existing close cooperation in defence and other areas between
the two countries would continue to grow to the mutual
benefit.
Zardari, later, conferred the award of the country's
highest military award "Hilal-i-Pakistan" on the vice admiral
in recognition of his endeavors for strengthening cooperation
between the naval forces of both the nations.
Vice Admiral Al Waqdani, a graduate of Pakistan Naval
Academy, received his commission in 1969 as Ensign in the
Royal Saudi Naval Forces. He was promoted to the rank of vice
admiral and appointed as commander Royal Saudi Naval Forces on
May 9, 2010.
PTI
First Published: Monday, April 25, 2011, 23:55