26 October 2004	Tuesday	11 Ramazan 1425

ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: A 12-member delegation of the Swedish defence commission will arrive here on a four-day visit on Friday to look at Pakistan's national security and defence policy for a long-term view. Later, the delegation will leave for India on a similar mission.

The Swedish defence commission, comprising primarily parliamentarians from the ruling and opposition parties, plays a key role in the formulation of Swedish security and defence policy in the new European context.

The visit, the first-ever by the commission, is seen as part of Sweden's political re-engagement with Pakistan and revival of high-level contacts between the two countries after a span of almost eight years.

The delegation will be given briefings on security structures at the ministries of defence and foreign affairs as well as the GHQ.

The programme also includes a briefing by UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan) and a visit to the National Defence College, Murree.

The Swedish commission will also have sessions with representatives of some NGOs and independent experts to get their perspective on the country's strategic and conventional policies.

"This is not a visit with an operational aim, but one aiming at seeking information for the purpose of increased understanding of the regional security context prevailing in South Asia and to a certain extent Central Asia," was how a Swedish diplomat here characterized the visit.

Sweden has a special interest in this region because it sees it as a potential conflict zone and hence is keen to work for risk reduction. Sweden also contributes troops in the UNMOGIP.

A 2003 report of the Swedish defence commission notes: "There is also potential for high technology warfare in conflicts of international nature, e.g. between India and Pakistan, and in such cases there is also a possibility of non-conventional weapons being used."

President Pervez Musharraf's visit to Sweden in July gave an impetus to bilateral relations and opened new avenues for cooperation between the two countries. It was the first interaction at the highest level since 1996 when the then prime minister Benazir Bhutto went to Sweden.

Notably, President Musharraf is the first head of state from Pakistan to visit Sweden, which is home to 5000 Pakistanis.