President Asif Ali Zardari met with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Wednesday in Manama, with the former reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to broadening cooperation between the two countries across political, economic, defence and cultural fields.
The president had arrived in Bahrain’s capital on Tuesday on a four-day state visit.
A post on the Presidency’s X account said Zardari was accorded a guard of honour upon his arrival at the royal residence, Al-Qudaibiya Palace, where the meeting was held.
“Talks covered trade and investment, defence [cooperation], support for the Pakistani community, and regional and global issues,” the post said.
A later statement issued by the Presidency said President Zardari and Bahrain’s king held comprehensive discussions aimed at “further strengthening the close and fraternal relationship” between the two countries.
“The talks reflected a shared resolve to deepen cooperation and give practical momentum to bilateral engagement,” it said.
The statement noted that First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and Balochistan Agriculture Minister Mir Ali Hassan Zehri also accompanied the president.
The statement added that King Hamad conferred the Order of Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa First Class, Bahrain’s highest award, on President Zardari in recognition of “his services and contribution to strengthening Pakistan–Bahrain relations”.
It said that during a one-on-one meeting, the two leaders reviewed the overall state of Pakistan–Bahrain relations and “expressed satisfaction over their positive trajectory”.
President Zardari conveyed appreciation for the warmth and extraordinary hospitality extended to him and his delegation and acknowledged the king’s enduring goodwill towards Pakistan, the statement said.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to broadening cooperation across political, economic, defence and cultural fields and reiterated the invitation for the king to undertake an official visit to Pakistan, it added.
Later, during an extended meeting, the two sides discussed “concrete ways to enhance trade and investment cooperation”.
“The president emphasised Pakistan’s desire to translate strong political relations into increased trade and deeper investment linkages. He invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan’s priority sectors, including agriculture and food security, information technology and digital services, healthcare, tourism and infrastructure, and highlighted the facilitative role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council in supporting foreign investors,” the statement said.
President Zardari underlined that Pakistan viewed Bahrain as an “important economic partner and expressed confidence that closer collaboration could unlock mutually beneficial opportunities”. He noted Pakistan’s economic potential, connectivity and skilled workforce and encouraged joint ventures that contribute to sustainable growth and shared prosperity, the statement added.
“The president also highlighted the long-standing defence and security cooperation between the two countries, describing it as a pillar of the bilateral relationship. He noted the close institutional linkages between the armed forces of Pakistan and Bahrain and reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to further strengthening this partnership,” the statement added.
While exchanging views on regional and international developments, President Zardari observed that the international community was passing through a difficult period marked by uncertainty and rapid change, it said.
“He stressed that nations must stand together to face the challenges of an emerging global order, noting that instability affecting one could have wider consequences for others. He underlined unity, perseverance, wisdom and restraint as essential virtues in the period ahead, and said that through collective resolve, countries could not only endure but also prosper,” it added.
President Zardari also paid tribute to the Pakistani community in Bahrain, describing them as a vital bridge between the two nations. He thanked the Bahraini leadership for the respect, opportunities and support extended to more than 116,000 Pakistanis living and working in the kingdom, and appreciated their positive contribution to Bahrain’s development and to people-to-people ties, the statement said.
He also acknowledged the establishment of the King Hamad University for Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences in Islamabad as a gracious gift from the king, regarding it as a “lasting symbol of friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and Bahrain”.
“The two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace, stability and multilateralism and underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing regional challenges. Both sides agreed on the need for coordinated efforts at international forums, including the United Nations, particularly on issues of shared concern to the Muslim Ummah,” it said.
Speaking at the banquet hosted in honour of President Zardari, King Hamad described Pakistan and Bahrain as brotherly countries bound by historic relations rooted in mutual respect, Islamic brotherhood and shared interests, the statement said.
“The king termed the president’s visit a significant milestone in further strengthening bilateral ties and reaffirmed Bahrain’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Pakistan across political, economic, commercial and developmental fields,” it said.
“He appreciated Pakistan’s consistent support for Bahrain, lauded the positive contribution of the Pakistani community to the kingdom’s development, and acknowledged Pakistan’s role in supporting the causes of the Arab and Islamic nations, as well as its efforts to promote regional and international peace and stability,” it added.
According to the Foreign Office, President Zardari will also meet with Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who serves as the prime minister as well, during his trip.
“The visit seeks to reinforce Pakistan’s longstanding cooperation with the brotherly Gulf nation while expanding opportunities for collaboration in trade and economic partnership, defence and security, and people-to-people ties,” the FO said earlier this week.
Last year in November, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during a two-day visit to Bahrain, had reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to deepening ties with the kingdom.
Discussing economic relations, the prime minister had underlined Pakistan’s desire to expand trade and investment and said bilateral trade was set to grow with the Pakistan-GCC Free Trade Agreement.
Bahrain’s interior minister also visited Pakistan in September, with the two countries agreeing to enhance cooperation in the fields of counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics and immigration.
Dawn – Homenone@none.com (News Desk)Read More
