Dastgir meets his Tajik counterpart in Dushanbe

RAWALPINDI: Federal Minister for Defence, Engr Khurram Dastgir Khan, who is in Dushanbe, Tajikistan met with his Tajik counterpart Lieutenant General Sher Ali Mirzo and United Nations Under Secretary General for counter-terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov.

The minister is in Tajikistan to represent Pakistan in the high-level international conference on “Countering Terrorism and Preventing Violent Extremism”, a defence ministry statement Friday said.

The conference was organized by the government of Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with the United Nations. The minister delivered Pakistan’s statement at the conference.

In his meeting with Lieutenant General Sher Ali Mirzo, the minister expressed well wishes for the military and civil leadership of the Tajikistan and its people.

He highlighted that being neighbours of Afghanistan both Pakistan and Tajikistan were facing similar security challenges and threats. “Pakistan believes in peaceful resolution of all issues and appreciates the efforts of Tajikistan in promotion of peace and stability in the region,” he said.

Dastgir mentioned that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would further provide new and unique opportunities for enhancing connectivity and integration from Gwadar to Kashgar and Muryhab in Tajikistan.

He proposed to explore new avenues of defence cooperation as he said Pakistan had adequately advanced defence industries, which were producing quality products.

He also offered avenues for working out mechanisms for accelerating intelligence cooperation through high-level interaction and exchange of military delegations and training of their armed forces in order to fight terrorism.