LIEUTENANT GENERAL AHSAN GULREZ, HILAL-E-IMTIAZ (MILITARY) CALLS ON THE CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF

Lieutenant General Ahsan Gulrez, Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) of the Pakistan Army, visited the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff (OCDS) and engaged in a cordial discussion with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil this evening (29 April).

Respecting the long-rooted military traditions, the visiting delegation was warmly welcomed and accompanied to the office. During the convivial dialogues, Lieutenant General Ahsan Gulrez expressed gratitude to General Shavendra Silva for the opportunity afforded to him and for the time extended during the visit. He underscored the enduring friendship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, affirming its status as a longstanding bond destined to endure into the future.

In response, General Shavendra Silva conveyed his appreciation to Lieutenant General Ahsan Gulrez for the visit to Sri Lanka and, specifically, for the opportunity to meet with him. He emphasised the deeply entrenched and robust bilateral relations shared between Sri Lanka and Pakistan’s armed forces. General Shavendra Silva also expressed gratitude for the support and assistance provided by Pakistan during the darkest hours of the country and later the challenging times in the recent past.

During the meeting, the two heads deliberated on matters pertaining to defence and training, while also considering numerous opportunities for collaboration in the future with respect to regional and global defence dynamics.

Lieutenant General Ahsan Gulrez, is a graduate of the National Defence University Islamabad, Defence Services Command & Staff College Bangladesh, and the US Army War College, Carlisle. With over 35 years of experience, he currently serves as the Director General, Joint Staff at Joint Staff Headquarters (JSHQ) in Chaklala, Rawalpindi.

Lieutenant General Ahsan Gulrez is a skilled marksman who has been representing the Army Shooting Team at Inter Services, National, and International levels since 2011. He holds 7 national records and 1 international record in long-range shooting. In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded the 'President’s Award for Pride of Performance' from the Government of Pakistan in March 2024.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of mementoes, symbolizing the significance of the occasion and the strengthening ties between the two nations, further cementing the cordiality and friendship shared between Pakistan and Sri Lanka armed forces.