Top Saudi military adviser calls on Pakistan army chief

Major General Talal Abdullah Al-Otaibi, military adviser to the Saudi Minister of Defense (left), meets Pakistan's chief of army staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on January 10, 2022. (ISPR)

• General Bajwa calls for devising institutional mechanism to send humanitarian aid to Afghanistan
• Saudi general lauds Pakistan’s contributions in Afghanistan, border management

ISLAMABAD: Major General Talal Abdullah Al-Otaibi, military adviser to the Saudi Minister of Defense, called on Pakistani chief of army staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday, the Pakistan army’s media wing said. 
The two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, regional security, the situation in Afghanistan and bilateral defense relations.
“COAS said that Pakistan values its historical and brotherly relations with the Kingdom and acknowledges its unique place in the Islamic world,” the army said. “COAS stressed upon the urgency for swiftly devising an institutional mechanism for channeling humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan in order to avert a looming humanitarian catastrophe. He underscored the importance of peace and reconciliation initiatives in Afghanistan.”
The visiting dignitary vowed to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in various fields and appreciated Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan, its special efforts for border management and role in regional stability.
On December 19, Pakistan hosted the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Organization of Islamic Corporation’s Council of Foreign Ministers. The session had been called by Saudi Arabia and its focus was the looming economic and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Around 70 delegations from OIC member states, non-members and regional and international organizations attended the summit in Islamabad. Around 20 delegations were led by foreign ministers and 10 by deputies or ministers of state.
Other than foreign ministers from Islamic countries, delegations from the European Union and the P5+1 group of the UN Security Council, including the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany, were also in attendance.
At the conclusion of the summit, OIC members states agreed to establish a Humanitarian Trust Fund to channel assistance to Afghanistan, appoint a special envoy and work together with the UN in the war-ravaged country.