ISLAMABAD, Jan 3, SPA - Major General Sheikh Mohammad Bin Isa Bin Al-Khalifa, Commander of the National Guards Bahrain, has met Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and discussed matters pertaining to Pakistan-Bahrain relations, says an official statement. The Prime Minister said that close and cordial relations between Pakistan and Bahrain are long lasting and historic as these are based on shared values. The two countries have enhanced cooperation in different fields including diplomacy and defense, he said. Aziz thanked the government of Bahrain for providing opportunities to several thousand Pakistanis in Bahrain to work there and said that the relations between the two countries are going from strength to strength. The Prime Minister said that the GCC countries are playing an important role in development of the Muslim Ummah. Major General Sheikh Muhammad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, who is also the brother of the ruler of Bahrain, thanked the Prime Minister for Pakistan's close cooperation with Bahrain and appreciated the role of Pakistani community in Bahrain, which is contributing significantly towards the socio-economic development of the country.--SPA 12 59 Local Time 09 59 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/316488