ISLAMABAD — Somalia and Pakistan have signed a defence cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening military ties, including collaboration on counterterrorism, training, expertise exchange and defence capacity building, Somalia’s Defence Ministry said.
Somali Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi and his Pakistani counterpart Khawaja Muhammad Asif signed the memorandum of understanding during an official Somali delegation visit to Islamabad on Tuesday.
The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between the two countries’ armed forces and reflects their shared interest in enhancing security cooperation and institutional development, according to a statement.
The deal comes as Somalia seeks to strengthen its military capabilities while continuing operations against Al-Shabaab militants and working toward greater responsibility for national security as the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) prepares for a gradual transition.
Somalia has expanded defence engagement with several regional partners in recent years, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and other countries, as it works to improve military training, equipment and operational capacity.
In February, Somalia and Saudi Arabia signed a defence cooperation agreement in Riyadh, covering areas including military cooperation and training. Officials have not publicly detailed whether the latest Somalia-Pakistan agreement is linked to that arrangement or whether external financing will support future defence programmes.
Pakistan has maintained defence cooperation with several African countries and has previously provided military training and capacity-building support through its armed forces.
