Pakistan is strengthening relations with Jordan

Pakistan recently signed a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia. Now after Saudi, Pakistan is strengthening its relations with another Muslim country Jordan. King Abdullah II of Jordan arrived in Pakistan on Saturday for a two-day visit.

This is his first visit in more than 20 years. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif welcomed King Abdullah II at Noor Khan Air Base.

Why is the King travelling?

Ministers Musaddiq Malik and Wajiha Qamar were also present on the occasion, along with First Lady Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. According to Radio Pakistan, King Abdullah II is making this visit on the invitation of Prime Minister Sharif.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif welcomed the king and his entourage at the Noor Khan airbase outside Islamabad, where Pakistan Air Force fighter jets escorted the royal plane as it entered national airspace.

Delighted to host and meet my brother, His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein this evening. It was an honor to receive him in Islamabad earlier today.

During our warm and cordial meeting, we explored ways to further deepen our historic brotherly ties through enhanced pic.twitter.com/GuY7QT6s4N

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) November 15, 2025

What is the purpose of the tour?

Pakistani officials said the visit was the first by a Jordanian monarch in more than twenty years. The Foreign Ministry described relations with Jordan as long-standing and based on brotherhood and said that the purpose of this new meeting is to set a more ambitious path forward encompassing political, economic, cultural and security matters.

According to the Foreign Ministry, King Abdullah will meet the President and the Prime Minister separately, after which there will be wide-ranging talks between the two governments. A ceremony is also scheduled at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in which King will be given Pakistan’s highest civilian honour.

How are the relations between the two countries?

Islamabad officials said that both the countries, along with several Arab and Islamic countries, have participated in regional discussions related to US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. Pakistan and Jordan also have strong ties in the defense sector, including regular exchanges of senior military officers.

Jordan was one of the first countries to formally recognize Pakistan in 1948, and officials say the current visit is aimed at furthering this historic relationship. According to Pakistani figures, bilateral trade between the two countries stood at a little over $46 million last year and about 16,000 Pakistanis live in Jordan.

King Abdullah’s extensive tour of Asia also included visits to Japan, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia before his visit to Islamabad.