Defence cooperation MoU signed with South Africa
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and South Africa signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday on defence cooperation.
Titled “Defence and defence industrial cooperation”, the MoU was signed by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and South African Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
A South African defence delegation is on a four-day visit to Pakistan. It is the first visit by a defence minister from South Africa to Pakistan Defence relations between Pakistan and South Africa have recently witnessed growth.
Chief of South African National Defence Force Gen Solly Zacharia was the main guest at this year’s Pakistan Day parade .
A defence ministry note said the MoU would provide for strengthening and diversifying through formal structures collaborative programmes, exchange of information and training of armed forces’ officers, and acquisition of defence equipment as well as cooperation in research and development, transfer of technology, coproduction and joint ventures.
The two countries will establish a joint defence committee to steer the cooperation.
Ms Mapisa-Nqakula later visited the General Headquarters for a meeting with Chief of the Army staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.
“During the meeting, views were exchanged on issues of mutual interest, including defence and security cooperation between the two countries and the overall regional security situation,” the ISPR, the military’s public relations wing, said.
Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2017