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ISLAMABAD, May 21: Pakistan and Poland on Monday agreed to expand cooperation in defence and trade. The agreement was reached after a meeting between Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal and his Polish counterpart, Aleksander Szezyglo, according to a press release.
The two ministers discussed prospects for increasing cooperation in spheres of trade, economy and defence, the statement said..
Rao Sikandar Iqbal told the visiting delegation that Pakistan was committed to combating terrorism and had deployed 80,000 troops on its western border with Afghanistan.
The Polish defence minister, praising Pakistan's role in the `war on terror’, said it was tackling a complex situation with courage.
Rao Sikandar briefed the delegation about the quality of the defence equipment being produced by Pakistan’s armaments industry.
The two delegations agreed that there was a vast potential for increasing cooperation in different fields.
The meeting agreed to increase cooperation in military training so as to benefit from each other’s experience, the press release said.
DELEGATION MEETS PM: Earlier, the delegation called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
Talking to members of the Polish team, Mr Aziz said Pakistan’s defence policy was driven by the prevailing geostrategic environment and its national aspirations.
The prime minister said Pakistan had no aggressive designs against any country, adding that its defence policy was designed to maintain a `minimum credible deterrence’, both in conventional and strategic fields, to ensure peace and stability in the region.
He said Pakistan was desirous of promoting peace in South Asia, Middle East and Central Asia.
Mr Aziz said Pakistan’s armaments industry had made rapid strides over the years, but this did not imply that `we harbour inimical designs against any country’.
The prime minister said he saw a great potential for the expansion of cooperation in different fields with Poland. “We want to import more engineering goods and heavy machinery from Poland.”
Mr Aziz sought Poland’s help in Pakistan’s efforts to gain more access for its goods in the markets of the European Union states.
Pakistan was keen to enter into free trade agreements with EU countries, he added.
Mr. Aleksandar Szczyglo, the Polish defence minister, praised Islamabad for supporting the West in the `war on terror’.
“Pakistan is making a valuable contribution in promoting regional peace and stability.”
Mr Szczyglo said his country looked forward to increasing cooperation with Pakistan in a host of areas. “We are working on several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for increasing defence collaboration with Pakistan.”
Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal and the Minister of State for Defence, Ali Asjad
Malhi, were also present at the meeting.
