ISLAMABAD: British Army’s Chief of the General Staff General Sir Patrick Sanders arrived in Pakistan on a five-day visit on Monday, the UK high commission in Islamabad said, adding the visit was part of a long-standing military cooperation agreement between the two countries.
The “depth” of the UK-Pakistan military relationship and friendship, underpinned by a shared history and ‘living bridge’ diaspora links, was highly valued by the UK, according to the British high commission.
During his visit, General Sanders is scheduled to meet with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, alongside other defense engagements.
“The existing [Pakistan-UK] defense 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 Defense Studies,” the UK high commission said in a statement.
“Discussing bilateral military cooperation in response to climate change-related crises will be a key focus of the visit.”
Gen Sanders’ visit comes almost a year after devastating floods submerged a third of Pakistan, killing more than 1,700 Pakistanis and affecting an estimated 33 million people.
The UK’s defense ministry had been directly involved in providing assistance for flood relief operations at the request of the then Pakistan Army chief, the high commission added.