RAWALPINDI, Dec 17: Pakistan and Poland on Wednesday reiterated the desire to promote bilateral cooperation in various fields particularly in the area of defence.

The cooperation was discussed at a meeting between Federal Minister for Defence, Chaudhary Ahmad Mukhtar, and the visiting Commander-in-Chief of Polish Navy, Vice Admiral Karweta.

A statement issued by Ministry of Defence said that the meeting agreed to promote cooperation between the two Navies by offering training courses to each other’s naval personnel.

The minister also briefed the Polish Naval Chief about the counter-terrorism measures taken by Pakistan. He said that Pakistan was committed to fighting and eliminating terrorism and had played a key role in this regard.

Mr Mukhtar informed the visiting dignitary that Pakistan had suffered a lot at the hands of terrorists and the world community needed to assist Pakistan in combating the war on terror so as to make the world a safer and peaceful place. Vice Admiral Karweta lauded the anti-terror efforts made by Pakistan.

The minister said that Pakistan attached great importance to its ties with Poland and was keen to improve military ties between the two countries. The minister said that defence cooperation between the two countries needed to be enhanced.

The meeting also exchanged views on geo-strategic situation of the region with special reference to Pakistan-Afghan border. The minister informed the Polish Naval Chief that Pakistan had deployed more than one hundred thousand troops on its border with Afghanistan with an objective to eliminate terrorist elements as well as check their cross-border movement.

He said that it was the earnest desire of Pakistan to see Afghanistan a peaceful and prosperous country because a stable and peaceful Afghanistan was not only in Pakistan’s interest but in the whole region as well.