WASHINGTON, May 6: The US agreed to enhance Pakistan’s conventional weapons capabilities at a meeting of their defence consultative group (DCG), which concluded here this week.
During the five-day meeting, both sides reached an understanding on a wide range of issues, from weapon supplies to the war on terror, and reviewed proposals for converting their alliance against terror into a ‘deeper and long-standing relationship.’
“The Indo-US nuclear deal did come up for discussion and we did convey our reservations about the proposed agreement,” Defence Secretary Lt-Gen (retired) Tariq Waseem Ghazi told a briefing.
The centrepiece of the DCG was a discussion about the US-Pakistan long-term strategic relationship. During it, the two sides exchanged views about importance of US-Pakistan relationship and on “how we can build upon an already robust defence relationship and ensure that it continues to grow stronger,” said a joint statement issued after the talks.
The need for enhancing Pakistan’s conventional defence capabilities came up for discussion during a meeting of the security assistance working group, one of the sub-groups of the consultative body.
Both sides reviewed ‘defensive systems available to improve Pakistan’s conventional capabilities, Pakistan’s equipment priorities and the way ahead for a sustainable defence cooperation relationship,” the statement said.
At a separate meeting, the military cooperation committee looked at ways for ‘better coordinating military to military cooperation and for improving the overall US-Pakistan military relationship,” the statement said.
The committee finalized a schedule for joint exercises and training activities during 2007.
The security assistance working group reviewed proposals for procurement of US military equipment and services under the US foreign military sales programme. The talks focused on acquisition of weapons systems and related support, repair and upgrade of existing systems and the technology transfer process.
“We affirmed that ensuring interoperability of weapons systems, tactics, techniques and procedures between our militaries remains a high priority,” the joint statement said.
