By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: King Abdullah II of Jordan, arriving in Pakistan on a two-day official visit, on Sunday received the country’s highest civilian honour and oversaw a display of Pakistani military capabilities alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, underscoring the deepening defence and diplomatic partnership between the two nations.
At a ceremony at the Presidency in Islamabad, President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the Nishan-i-Pakistan on the Jordanian monarch. In turn, King Abdullah bestowed the Order of the Bejewelled Grand Cordon of Al-Nahda, one of Jordan’s highest honors, upon President Zardari. The citation read to the king described him as “a visionary leader and a statesman of exceptional statesmanship who has championed the cause of moderation, justice and dialogue amongst nations.” It praised Jordan under his leadership as “a beacon of stability, tolerance and prosperity in the region” and highlighted his “unwavering advocacy for a just and lasting resolution of the Palestinian question.”
Earlier in the day, King Abdullah, accompanied by his daughter Princess Salma bint Abdullah and a high-level delegation, toured military and industrial facilities and witnessed a live-fire exercise that showcased Pakistan’s growing indigenous defence industry.
At the Tilla Field Firing Ranges near Jhelum, the king, Prime Minister Sharif, and Azerbaijan’s minister of defence industry, Vugar Valeh oglu Mustafayev, observed a joint fire and maneuver exercise demonstrating multi-domain operations, including conventional and air firepower, coordinated maneuvers, and the use of multi-purpose drones. “King Abdullah II appreciated the high standards of training, professionalism, and operational capabilities and preparedness demonstrated by the participating troops and aircrews,” the military’s Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.
At Global Industrial and Defence Solutions (GIDS), a state-owned conglomerate responsible for marketing Pakistani military products abroad, the king received a detailed briefing on progress in indigenous defence production and technological innovation.
Field Marshal Asim Munir, chief of army staff, received the Jordanian king at both venues. During the visit, King Abdullah conferred upon Field Marshal Munir the Order of the Military Merit of First Degree in recognition of his contributions to military cooperation between the two countries.
Field Marshal Munir, according to the military statement, reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing military-to-military cooperation with Jordan and realising “the mutual vision of a stable and peaceful region.”
Prime Minister Sharif, speaking at the firing range, expressed “Pakistan’s deep respect and affection for His Majesty King Abdullah II and the people of Jordan,” adding that the visit reflected “enduring friendship, mutual trust and a shared desire for peace and development.”
In a bilateral meeting on Saturday, the king and Sharif affirmed “zero-tolerance” for any displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. King Abdullah praised Pakistan’s consistent support for Jordan’s custodianship of holy sites in Jerusalem and for Amman’s humanitarian efforts in Gaza. The two sides also signed memorandums of understanding in media, culture, and education. The visit, only the second by a head of state to Pakistan since Prime Minister Sharif formed a new government earlier this year, highlighted the unusually close defence and strategic ties between Islamabad and Amman at a time when both nations are navigating complex regional dynamics, including the aftermath of the Gaza war and shifting security alignments in the Middle East and South Asia. The military’s statement described the trip as “a significant milestone in reinforcing the historic bonds of fraternity and brotherhood” between Pakistan and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.”
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