Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said his country won’t be sending its troops to Saudi Arabia or Bahrain.

Islamabad, March 20/Nationalturk- Putting all speculations to rest, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said his country won’t be sending its troops to Saudi Arabia or Bahrain.

“Pakistan was not sending its forces to either Bahrain or Saudi and neither had any of the two countries approached Pakistan to do so,” Nawaz was quoted as saying by Pakistan newspaper The Dawn telling reporters at the M M Alam airbase in Mianwali yesterday.

There were media speculations that Pakistan may be sending troops to Bahrain or Saudi Arabia.

Nawaz made the statement while welcoming Bahraini king’s Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, who arrived on a three-day visit to Pakistan yesterday. He is leading a 21-member delegation which includes his top defence and internal security chiefs.

The king of Bahrain along with his delegation visited the Joint Services Headquarters (JSHQ) in Rawalpindi where Pakistan’ PM joined by military leaders held talks with delegation of Bahrain led by its king.

The two sides vowed to further enhance military cooperation.

Pakistan helped Bahrain quell unrest in 2011

In 2011, Pakistan had helped Bahrain quell an uprising against the monarchy by sending security personnel recruited through military’s welfare wings.

It is estimated that almost 10,000 Pakistanis are serving in security services of Bahrain. During the Arab Spring, Bahrain is believed to have hired the services of retired military and police officials to quell the revolt.

Pakistan had also reportedly helped Bahrain set up its naval forces and 18 per cent of the Gulf state’s air force comprises Pakistani personnel.

Bahrain-Pakistan signed 15 MoUs

The two countries signed 15 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and two agreements aiming at boosting the bilateral trade and investment relations in different sectors. These MoUs and agreements were inked at the conclusion of a day-long Pakistan-Bahrain Business Forum, which was jointly organised by the Bahrain Ministry of Industries and Commerce in collaboration with the Pakistan Ministry of Commerce and the Board of Investment.

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Asia News/ NationalTurk Pakistan News