Pretoria, 22 July 2022 (TDI): Admiral Robert Wiliam Higgs, Former Fleet Commander & Naval Chief of the South African Navy, called on the Pakistan High Commissioner in South Africa, Mazhar Javed.
Both officials discussed the history of cordial relations between the two countries and the military cooperation in particular.
They further discussed future avenues of collaboration in the defense industrial domain. Defense Advisor of Pakistan High Commission in Pretoria, Brigadier Shehryar Qureshi also participated in the meeting.
Admiral Higgs, Former Fleet Commander & CNS, South African Navy called on the High Commissioner, Dr. Mazhar Javed today.
Discussion focused on history of cordial relations enjoyed between the two countries in general and the militaries in particular. pic.twitter.com/3vGa1iqCFJ
— Pakistan High Commission South Africa (@PKinSouthAfrica) July 21, 2022
Pak-South African Military Ties
Pakistan and South Africa enjoy close military ties. Each country has hosted military counterparts. Dozens of South African National Defence Force members have undergone training in Pakistan.
Many High-level official visits have been paid by military leaders of both sides. Earlier this year in March, Chief of South African Navy, Admiral Mosuwa Hlongwane paid a visit to Pakistan and called on Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi.
In July 2021, the Chief of the South African National Defence Force also paid an official visit to Pakistan. He called on Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Nadeem Raza and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Bajwa.
South African Defense Chief also paid a visit to Presidential House, Islamabad, and met President Arif Alvi.
In 2019, the then Chief of the Pakistan Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Bajwa paid friendly visits to South Africa.
In March 2017, South Africa and Pakistan signed a government-to-government defense cooperation agreement. This agreement significantly included industrial cooperation. Two sides signed a general Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation.
The Pakistani military also sends students to the Army College in South Africa while Pakistan accepted South African officers for staff college training.
Pakistan also trained South African personnel in special forces roles. In 2019 around 40 South African commanders were trained in Pakistan.
Pakistan attaches great importance to its ties with South Africa under its “Look Africa” policy. The country wants to increase the frequency of exchanges at military and political levels to further cement bilateral ties.
