ISLAMABAD, Dec 15: Pakistan has for the first time decided to forge defence ties with Egypt, which has agreed to purchase armaments and defence equipment from Pakistan.

This was stated by Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri while addressing a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Aboul Gheit after formal talks between the two sides. He said he had formally invited Egypt to have a look at items produced by Pakistan.

“The militaries of the two countries are already in touch. I just wanted to give a political input on it,” he remarked. The Egyptian foreign minister said he would raise the issue with his administration.

Mr Kasuri said the second Pakistan-Egypt joint ministerial commission, co-chaired by the two foreign ministers, concluded its deliberations with the signing of important agreements.

Mr Kasuri said he apprised Mr Gheit of recent developments in the ongoing composite dialogue with India. He hoped that the dialogue process would lead to the resolution of all outstanding issues between Pakistan and India.

The Egyptian foreign minister, however, parried questions about Kashmir by saying: “I have heard Pakistan’s point of view and will listen to views of Indian side during my second leg of South Asia visit and then form my opinion.”