Al-Azhar's Grand Imam meets Pakistan army chief to expand religious coop.

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed el Tayyeb met on Thursday with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir in Cairo to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between Al-Azhar and Pakistan.

During their talks, Tayyeb spoke warmly of his time teaching in Islamabad, describing the Pakistani people as hardworking and proud of their national identity.

He noted that Al-Azhar currently hosts 254 Pakistani students, including 162 on full scholarships, and expressed readiness to increase that number to support Pakistan’s educational needs.

He also proposed the creation of an Arabic language center in Pakistan and welcomed further training of Pakistani imams at Al-Azhar’s academy in Cairo, which prepares religious leaders to counter extremist ideologies.

Additionally, the Grand Imam warned of the current spread of extremist thought through modern technology and described it as a major challenge facing Muslim societies.

He affirmed that such ideologies are backed by external actors aiming to destabilize the region and distract it from progress. He stressed the importance of social cohesion and referred to the Prophet Muhammad’s actions in Medina as a model for building peaceful communities.

For his part, Munir expressed appreciation for Al-Azhar’s role in promoting a correct understanding of Islam and its efforts to confront radicalism.

He said that Pakistan looks forward to expanding cooperation with Al-Azhar in areas such as training and education. He invited the Grand Imam to visit Pakistan, saying that the people there hold him in high regard. Tayeb accepted the invitation, expressing his deep connection to the country and his desire to return and visit it.