ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain has advised African states to learn from Zarb-i-Azb military operation to combat the rising threat of Daesh (Islamic State) and other terrorist organisations.

He also urged Asian and African countries to devise a joint strategy to deal with the menace of terrorism.

The president was talking to a delegation of the Karachi Council of Foreign Relations, accompanied by the ambassadors/high commissioners of some African countries, which had called on him on Monday at the presidency. The delegation included the ambassadors of Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Nigeria, Algeria and Mauritania.

Also read: Zarb-i-Azb to be completed by year-end: minister

He said African countries could benefit from Pakistan’s experience of carrying out a large-scale military operation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

The president referred to a recent act of barbarism by the IS in Libya and offered condolence for the 21 Egyptians who were beheaded.

He said Pakistan’s “Look Africa Policy” envisaged an improvement in relations with African countries through frequent exchange of visits and enhancement of trade and visa facilitation.

He suggested to Asian and African countries to work on intelligence sharing to shatter terrorist networks.

He said African countries should benefit from Pakistan’s experience in the field of arms and ammunition and invited African diplomats to attend the IDEAS 2015 Expo, an annual exhibition of defence equipment organised by Pakistan military, to be held in November in Karachi.

Pakistan, he said, was exporting state-of-the-art defence equipment at comparative rates.

Published in Dawn February 17th , 2015

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