Top Bangladesh Army officer meets Pakistan Army Chief

New Delhi: A top-ranking Bangladesh army general has met the Pakistan army chief in Islamabad.

Lt Gen SM Kamr-ul-Hassan, principal staff officer (PSO) of the armed forces division of Bangladesh, who is also the second-in-command of Bangladesh army, is the first top Bangladeshi general to have travelled to Islamabad in many years, signalling stepping up of defence engagement between the two countries.

The Bangladesh army officer held separate meetings with Pakistan's chief of army staff Gen Syed Asim Munir and chairman joint chiefs of staff committee Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza on Tuesday, according to Pakistan military's media wing.


Lt Gen Hassan held extensive discussions with the Pakistan army chief on the "evolving security dynamics in the region and explored further the avenues for enhancing the bilateral military cooperation", according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan.

Without naming India, both generals underscored the importance of a "stronger defence relationship", emphasising that the enduring partnership between the two nations must remain "resilient against external influences".

ET had reported last month that the Pakistan army is planning to launch training programmes for its Bangladesh counterpart from February on Bangladesh soil.