Egypt, Pakistan discuss military cooperation in Cairo meeting

By Omar Alothmani and Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met Wednesday in Cairo with Chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in military and security fields, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

Mirza delivered greetings from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and praised the continued momentum and positive trajectory in relations between the two nations, the statement added.

The talks focused on boosting joint collaboration in defense and security and sharing expertise in combating terrorism and extremism, reflecting what the statement described as “the two countries’ mutual strategic interests.”

The meeting also addressed developments in the Middle East, particularly Egypt’s ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to the presidency.

Both sides stressed the need for the international community to take responsibility for alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ensuring aid reaches civilians.

The statement also emphasized the importance of expanding international recognition of a Palestinian state as the only path toward lasting peace and regional stability.

France, along with 14 other Western nations, issued a joint appeal Wednesday calling for recognition of a Palestinian state and a ceasefire in Gaza, according to a statement by the French Foreign Ministry.

Last year, Spain, Ireland, Norway, and Slovenia recognized Palestine, bringing the number of UN member states recognizing Palestinian statehood to 148 out of 193 UN member states.

Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 60,100 Palestinians. The relentless bombardment has devastated the enclave and led to food shortages.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.