UK Chief of the General Staff undertakes Defence Engagement visit to Pakistan

Celina Ali

Islamabad: The British Army’s Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders, has arrived in Pakistan for a five-day Defence Engagement visit as part of the long standing defence cooperation agreement between the UK and Pakistan.

During his visit, General Sir Patrick Sanders, will meet with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, alongside other Defence Engagement activities.

The depth and warmth of the UK-Pakistan military relationship and friendship, underpinned by a shared history and ‘living bridge’ diaspora links, is highly valued by the UK. The existing Defence relationship includes Pakistani officers undertaking training at the UK’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the Advance Command and Staff Course and the Royal College of Defence Studies.

General Sir Patrick Sanders’ visit comes almost one year after Pakistan’s devastating floods which left nearly one third of the country submerged and affected an estimated 33 million people.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence was directly involved in providing assistance for flood relief operations, airlifting in eight boats and ten portable generators at the request of Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff. Discussing bilateral military cooperation in response to climate change related crises will be a key focus of the visit.