LONDON, March 6: Pakistan-UK Defence Cooperation Forum’s fourth two-day meeting which concluded here on Wednesday laid a good foundation for forging defence co-operation between the two countries in days ahead.

“The two-day meeting of the forum, where tangible and practical steps to strengthen the existing defence co-operation between the two countries were discussed, concluded successfully,” said a statement of Pakistan High Commission issued here at the conclusion of the meeting.

Defence secretary Lt-Gen Hamid Nawaz Khan led Pakistan’s delegation at the meeting of the defence forum while UK permanent under secretary, Kevin Tebbit led his side.

“The two sides also agreed that a good foundation has been laid for subsequent bilateral co-operation,” said the statement.

It said the next meeting of the defence co-operation would be held in Pakistan in 2003.

The 4th meeting of the Defence Forum was held after a break of three years. Its first meeting was held in 1996, second in 1997 and third was held in 1999.

British secretary of defence Geoff Hoon visited Islamabad last month where the two sides agreed to convene the Defence Co-operation Forum’s meeting.

“We look forward to closer co-operation in the commercial, judicial and defence spheres. I am delighted that we are about to re-establish the Defence

Co-operation Forum,” Hoon had stated in his arrival statement.