Ambassadors of Japan, Ukraine, Bahrain call on Defence Minister

ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (APP): The Ambassadors of Japan, Ukraine and Bahrain to Pakistan separately called on Minister for Defence, Chaudry Ahmad Mukhtar on Wednesday and discussed with them matters of bilateral importance. In his meeting with the Minister, the ambassador of Japan, Seiji Kojima, told him that Japan highly values its relations with Pakistan and wanted to further promote bilateral cooperation in the areas of common interest. The meeting exchanged views on various subjects like Pakistan’s anti-terror efforts, the Swat Peace Agreement and the implications of the bombs blasts and suicide attacks on Pakistan. The Minister briefed the envoy about the Swat Agreement and expressed optimism that it would help in bringing normalcy and promoting peace and stability in the terror-stricken areas of Malakand, besides providing speedy justice to the residents of the locality. The Minister informed the envoy that Pakistan had suffered a lot at the hands of terrorists because the suicide attacks and bomb blasts had badly affected its economic and social development. He said that international efforts were required to strengthen Pakistan in terms of finance and equipment enabling it to overcome the menace of terrorism. Regarding the drone attacks on Pakistan’s soil, the Minister said that these attacks were proving counter-productive. During the course of discussion with the ambassador, the Minister termed certain news reports as baseless which state that CIA runs predator flights from Shamsi Airbase in Baluchistan. Contradicting these reports, the Minister said that Pakistan had no such understanding with the US to allow her to use its bases for predator attacks. In his meeting with the Minister, the Ambassador of Ukraine Igor Pasco, stressed the need for further strengthening and improving bilateral cooperation between the two sides in divergent fields. Both sides expressed the desire to enhance cooperation in the area of Defence Production. The meeting agreed to intensify efforts to increase active cooperation at political, technical and military levels as there existed tremendous potential between the two countries which needed to be capitalized on for the mutual benefits of the two sides. The Ukrainian envoy apprised the Minister about the use of ultra-sound mineral technology in Pakistan having the capability to find and detect any kind of mineral up to seven kilometer below the earth’s surface. The Ambassador of Bahrain Mohammad Ebrahim Mohammad Abdul Qadir discussed matters pertaining to enhancement of bilateral cooperation. The envoy told the Minister that his country attaches greater significance to its ties with Pakistan as the two brotherly countries had shared cultures, values and religion, besides having a commonality of perceptions on regional and international issues. Both sides discussed the existing level of relationship and laid emphasis on further broadening and consolidating bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, economy and defence.