CDF reaffirms Pakistan's commitment to bolster defence, security cooperation with France

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir affirmed Pakistan's dedication to expanding defence relations with France on Tuesday, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). A senior French defence official, Jean-Noël Poirier, and France's Ambassador to Pakistan visited Field Marshal Munir at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi for the discussion, as per the ISPR statement.

During the meeting with Nicolas Roche, Secretary General for France's General Secretariat for Defence and National Security (SGDSN), "issues of common concern, including regional security and bilateral cooperation in defence and security domains, were deliberated upon", the statement noted.

Field Marshal Munir reiterated Pakistan's pledge to "strengthen bilateral ties and augment defence and security cooperation", while Roche recognized Pakistan's role in fostering regional peace and stability, expressing France's "interest in broadening cooperation in areas of mutual interest", the ISPR added.

The SGDSN holds a central position within the French executive power organization, assisting the Prime Minister in their duties related to defence and national security. The organization focuses on strategic defence matters, security policy formulation, economic and energy security, cybersecurity, combating terrorism, and countering foreign digital interference.

The SGDSN also covers key areas such as military programming and the national defence and security councils chaired by the French president. During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also met with France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. They emphasized the need to ensure the "safety and free flow" of maritime traffic and uninterrupted energy supplies amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Both sides acknowledged the significance of ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.