January 20, 2007	Saturday	Zilhaj 29, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: Pakistan and Portugal have agreed to bolster bilateral cooperation, particularly in the defence field. This was decided at a meeting the other day between the visiting Defence Minister of Portugal, Professor Doutor Nuno Severiano Teixeira, and Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri at the Foreign Office here.

“The two ministers discussed ways and means of strengthening bilateral cooperation in various fields including defence and training exchanges between defence institutions of the two countries,” a press statement issued by the foreign minister’s office said.

The two ministers also exchanged views on their perspectives on the situation in Afghanistan, it said.

Mr Kasuri briefed Prof Teixeira on Pakistan’s policy on Afghanistan and underlined the need for greater success in reconstruction and reconciliation. He hoped that within the framework of the Tripartite Military Commission, security cooperation would be further increased.

Mr Kasuri told the Portugal defence minister that Pakistan had nearly 1,000 security posts on the border with Afghanistan, it had deployed 80,000 troops in the area and suffered 700 casualties and over 2,000 injured, adding: “This is larger than the combined loses of all others in this regard.”

He reiterated that in counter-terrorism Pakistan had done more than any other country in the world. The foreign minister also apprised the visiting dignitary of Pakistan’s recent efforts for strengthening border control with Afghanistan to prevent cross border movements.—Q.A.