New Delhi, Dec. 24 -- Saudi Arabia has awarded its highest national honor to Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, during his visit to Riyadh, Pakistan's military said Monday, underscoring deepening ties between the two countries, including cooperation on counterterrorism.

Munir received the King Abdulaziz Medal of the Excellent Class on Sunday, months after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a defense pact with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighting the longstanding strategic relationship between the two countries.

In September, Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said his nation's nuclear program "will be made available" to Saudi Arabia if needed under the countries' new defense pact.

Munir's vi...