08 December 2004	Wednesday	25 Shawwal 1425

RAWALPINDI, Dec 7: Pakistan and Algeria have expressed the desire to enhance military cooperation between the two countries.

According to a press release, this was discussed during a meeting between the Federal Minister for Defence Rao Sikandar Iqbal and Ambassador of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Nadir Larbaoui on Tuesday.

Both the sides agreed that there was a tremendous scope of enhancing cooperation between the two countries in different fields particularly in the area of defence.

The Algerian envoy told the minister that it was essential to push and strengthen the cooperation between the two countries specially in the military field. He said Algeria wanted to get benefit from the arms industry of Pakistan.

The minister offered him that Pakistan could impart training and arrange courses for the military personnel of Algeria. Both sides also underscored the need for exchanging visits by the military personnel of the two countries.

The ambassador of Italy, Roberto Mazzotta, also called on the defence minister. He discussed with the minister various matters related to the military cooperation between the two countries. The measures, taken by Pakistan, against the war on terror also came under discussion during the meeting.