Latest news with #Asif Ali Zardari
Arab News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan confers award on CENTCOM chief for promoting Islamabad-Washington military ties
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari this week conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) award on United States Central Command (CENTCOM) chief General Michael E. Kurilla for promoting military cooperation between the two states, state-run media said. Kurilla arrived in Pakistan to attend a rare regional defense conference on Saturday in which officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan also took part. Zardari conferred the award on General Kurilla during a formal investiture ceremony in Islamabad on Saturday, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported, acknowledging his 'outstanding contributions' to regional security and his dedicated efforts in strengthening strategic defense ties between the two countries. 'The award has been given in recognition of his exemplary service and pivotal role in advancing enduring military cooperation between Pakistan and the US,' Radio Pakistan said. The state media credited Kurilla's leadership for fostering mutual understanding, enhancing defense collaboration and deepening counterterrorism cooperation between Pakistan's armed forces and CENTCOM. Radio Pakistan said during his visit, Kurilla held detailed meetings with senior Pakistani civil and military leadership,which included Zardari and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. 'Discussions encompassed regional security, military-to-military engagement, and joint efforts to combat terrorism and emerging transnational threats,' the statement said. Pakistan has recently sought a diplomatic reset with Washington after years of estrangement between the two countries, particularly during the Afghan war, where diverging perspectives deepened mistrust. High-level bilateral exchanges gradually faded as the US withdrew from Afghanistan. However, Islamabad has undertaken efforts in recent months to grow closer to the US administration, with Pakistan even nominating President Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for brokering a ceasefire between Islamabad and New Delhi on May 10.
Arab News
21-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan confers military award on Saudi naval chief for strengthening bilateral naval ties
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz military award on Royal Saudi Naval Forces Chief Vice Admiral Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Gharibi in recognition of his contributions to strengthening naval ties between the two countries. The award was conferred during a special investiture ceremony at the President House in Islamabad, which was attended by Saudi Arabia's Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and other senior officials. 'The president congratulated Vice Admiral Al-Gharibi on receiving the award and acknowledged his efforts in promoting cooperation between the navies of the two brotherly nations,' the president's secretariat said in a statement. President Zardari later held a meeting with the Saudi commander and expressed Pakistan's deep appreciation for Saudi Arabia's support during challenging times. He expressed satisfaction over the ongoing engagements between the two navies and called for further collaboration, according to the statement. The Pakistan president appreciated the participation of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces in Exercise AMAN-25 and AMAN Dialogue-25, held in Pakistan in February, noting that such joint activities contribute to promoting maritime cooperation and mutual understanding. He expressed appreciation for the trust placed by the Royal Saudi Naval Forces in the Pakistan Navy's training system and emphasized the importance of expanding training cooperation between the two navies. 'The President also praised the vision of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which he said is steering the Kingdom toward transformation, progress, and long-term prosperity,' the statement read. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan maintain close religious, cultural, diplomatic and strategic ties, particularly in trade and defense. The Kingdom is home to over two million Pakistani expatriates, who are the largest source of remittances to the South Asian country. The Kingdom has provided substantial support to Pakistan during its prolonged economic challenges in recent years, including external financing and assistance with International Monetary Fund loan programs.
Arab News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
No discussion to oust Zardari, promote Pakistan military chief to presidency
KARACHI: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday dismissed rumors that President Asif Ali Zardari is being pushed out of office or that army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is eyeing the presidency, reiterating that there had been no discussion about such a change. Media chatter about a possible constitutional amendment to replace President Zardari with someone else, potentially even the army chief, has gained traction in recent days. However, key political figures have swiftly rejected the notion. 'We are fully aware of who is behind the malicious campaign targeting President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and the Chief of Army Staff,' Naqvi said in a post on X. 'I have categorically stated that there has been no discussion, nor does any such idea exist, about the President being asked to resign or the COAS aspiring to assume the presidency.' The president maintains a 'strong and respectful' relationship with the military leadership, Naqvi said, adding that the army chief's 'sole focus' was on Pakistan's strength and stability. He warned those pushing this narrative in coordination with 'hostile foreign agencies' to continue as they wished but vowed that the government would do 'whatever is necessary to make Pakistan strong again, InshAllah.' On Tuesday, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) echoed Naqvi's rebuke, with PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari calling the rumors 'baseless' and noting that the country's federal government could not function without the PPP's support. 'Zardari is the duly elected president of this country, and this system cannot function without him,' Bukhari said, dismissing the allegations as 'uninformed and misleading.' Irfan Siddiqui, a close aide to Prime Minister Sharif and a former senator, has also rejected the speculation, saying, 'No such suggestion is under consideration at any level.'
