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Pakistan to Push Ahead with Defence Co-operation
2007-12-12 01:29:59
ANNOUNCING A FRESH US$ 31 million package of military assistance to Sri Lanka, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Inamul Haq said in Islamabad yesterday that his country would push ahead with defense cooperation to Sri Lanka, notwithstanding objections from India, though not made formally, or concerns expressed privately.
"We will continue to assist Sri Lanka to fight LTTE terrorism despite India's "unofficial objections" or "private concerns" because no third country has a right to place limitations on an independent and sovereign nation", he told the visiting seven-member Sri Lankan Media delegation which called on him in the Pakistani capital yesterday morning.
He said that the Pakistani government earlier provided a US$ 50 million defense package to Sri Lanka and will continue to help the island nation to crush terrorism. "No third country can object to this because both Sri Lanka and Pakistan are independent countries battling the scourge of terrorism".
Declining to elaborate on the nature of defense assistance extended to Sri Lanka, Mr. Inamul Haq said that new military technology was also amongst the hardware given so far. "I cannot go into further details.".
Responding to a question by The Island on whether Pakistan is looking at a Defense Pact with Sri Lanka in terms of fighting terrorism regionally, the Foreign Ministry replied, "Pakistan is also a victim of terrorism and a Defense Pact is not a necessity to fight international terrorism. This is not totally a bilateral issue but a problem which has spilled over borders and become a threat not only within nations but trans-border terrorism here. Defense Pacts are meant to protect counties but in the context of fighting terrorism globally, what we should have is economic cooperation and closer integration of countries in the region."
"Take the suicide bombings which originated from the LTTE and spread to Iraq, Afghanistan and now to Pakistan", he pointed out. "We are determined to curb this threat".
Mr. Inamul Haq, a career diplomat and a former foreign secretary, said that Pakistan which provides 250 to 300 training slots to Sri Lankan defense personnel each year, is prepared to increase this number through mutual consultation, if deemed necessary. "It can be done if Sri Lanka so wishes".
"Pakistan has trained more than 2,000 Sri Lankan defense personnel over the years".
He said that these Lankan military officers and men are trained in different defense schools in Pakistan, including the prestigious National Defense University in Islamabad.
The Foreign Minister said that it has been decided to hold the next SAARC Summit in Colombo in 2008 to mark Sri Lanka's 60th anniversary of Independence. It was the turn of Male to host this summit next year, but the Maldives has opted to hold the eight-member regional confab in 2009 because of certain internal compulsions.
"SAARC has now acquired a higher profile with the US, EU and China being given observer status. Afghanistan has also been given SAARC membership", he explained. "The relationship between Pakistan and India has not hampered the work of this vital regional body".
The Foreign Minister noted that Pakistan was cooperating with Sri Lanka not only on counter terrorism but on drug trafficking as well. "We are working together to combat this twin menace".
He said that bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan has appreciated significantly over the past two years. "We have topped the US$ 250 million mark".
He expressed optimism that bilateral trade will continue to grow with the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations also being geared to play a crucial role.
(Courtesy: The Island)
2007-12-12 01:29:59
ANNOUNCING A FRESH US$ 31 million package of military assistance to Sri Lanka, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Inamul Haq said in Islamabad yesterday that his country would push ahead with defense cooperation to Sri Lanka, notwithstanding objections from India, though not made formally, or concerns expressed privately.
"We will continue to assist Sri Lanka to fight LTTE terrorism despite India's "unofficial objections" or "private concerns" because no third country has a right to place limitations on an independent and sovereign nation", he told the visiting seven-member Sri Lankan Media delegation which called on him in the Pakistani capital yesterday morning.
He said that the Pakistani government earlier provided a US$ 50 million defense package to Sri Lanka and will continue to help the island nation to crush terrorism. "No third country can object to this because both Sri Lanka and Pakistan are independent countries battling the scourge of terrorism".
Declining to elaborate on the nature of defense assistance extended to Sri Lanka, Mr. Inamul Haq said that new military technology was also amongst the hardware given so far. "I cannot go into further details.".
Responding to a question by The Island on whether Pakistan is looking at a Defense Pact with Sri Lanka in terms of fighting terrorism regionally, the Foreign Ministry replied, "Pakistan is also a victim of terrorism and a Defense Pact is not a necessity to fight international terrorism. This is not totally a bilateral issue but a problem which has spilled over borders and become a threat not only within nations but trans-border terrorism here. Defense Pacts are meant to protect counties but in the context of fighting terrorism globally, what we should have is economic cooperation and closer integration of countries in the region."
"Take the suicide bombings which originated from the LTTE and spread to Iraq, Afghanistan and now to Pakistan", he pointed out. "We are determined to curb this threat".
Mr. Inamul Haq, a career diplomat and a former foreign secretary, said that Pakistan which provides 250 to 300 training slots to Sri Lankan defense personnel each year, is prepared to increase this number through mutual consultation, if deemed necessary. "It can be done if Sri Lanka so wishes".
"Pakistan has trained more than 2,000 Sri Lankan defense personnel over the years".
He said that these Lankan military officers and men are trained in different defense schools in Pakistan, including the prestigious National Defense University in Islamabad.
The Foreign Minister said that it has been decided to hold the next SAARC Summit in Colombo in 2008 to mark Sri Lanka's 60th anniversary of Independence. It was the turn of Male to host this summit next year, but the Maldives has opted to hold the eight-member regional confab in 2009 because of certain internal compulsions.
"SAARC has now acquired a higher profile with the US, EU and China being given observer status. Afghanistan has also been given SAARC membership", he explained. "The relationship between Pakistan and India has not hampered the work of this vital regional body".
The Foreign Minister noted that Pakistan was cooperating with Sri Lanka not only on counter terrorism but on drug trafficking as well. "We are working together to combat this twin menace".
He said that bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan has appreciated significantly over the past two years. "We have topped the US$ 250 million mark".
He expressed optimism that bilateral trade will continue to grow with the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations also being geared to play a crucial role.
(Courtesy: The Island)
