ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has said that Pakistan can help Iraq in development of its infrastructure by providing technical assistance and human resource.

During a meeting with an Iraqi delegation led by Defence Minister Juma Enad Sadoon Khattab Al Jibori at Aiwan-i-Sadr here on Friday, the president emphasised that both the countries needed to support each other at all international forums. He said Pakistan attached great importance to the mutually beneficial relations with Iraq and wanted to further strengthen bilateral relations in the areas of trade, economy and defence.

President Alvi offered training courses for the Iraqi military personnel in the defence training institutes of Pakistan.

The Iraqi defence minister said his country wanted to improve economic and political relations with Pakistan.

Iraqi Defence Minister Saadoon also met Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and discussed the overall situation in the region. They reaffirmed the mutual desire to further promote and solidify existing bilateral relations, the Foreign Office said.

Mr Qureshi underscored the importance accorded by Pakistan to its fraternal ties with Iraq.

Stressing the need for frequent high-level exchanges between the two countries, the foreign minister expr­essed the hope that the visit of the Iraqi defence minister would help diversify and deepen collaboration bet­ween the two countries in the fields of defence and defence production.

The Iraqi defence minister also called on Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Nadeem Raza at the Joint Staff Headquarters in Raw­alpindi, said a statement issued by the ISPR.

Matters of bilateral professional interest and further strengthening of security and defence cooperation between the two countries were discussed during the meeting, the ISPR added.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2021