ISLAMABAD: Defence Secretary Lt Gen (R) Ikram Ul Haq has said that Pakistan–Sri Lanka Defence Dialogue has enabled both countries to identify new areas of collaboration and provided an opportunity to exchange views on strategic and security issues.

The defence secretary who co-chaired the first round of Pakistan–Sri Lanka Defence Dialogue in Colombo, said defence ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka are based on mutual trust and commonality of interest in maintaining regional peace, security and stability, a press release said.

The Sri Lankan side was led by Secretary Defence of Sri Lanka Kapila Waidyaratne.

The dialogue is the apex forum of defence collaboration between the two countries and aims to promote professional and mutually beneficial relations between their armed forces.

The inaugural round of Defence Dialogue upgrades the existing forum of military collaboration between the two countries and would further strengthen bilateral defence ties by enhancing and diversifying the present level of cooperation.

The defence secretary said Pakistan and Sri Lanka share the unique honor of defeating terrorism; an achievement which shows the unflinching resolve of their people and their armed forces.

Expressing confidence that the Defence Dialogue would prove successful, he showed satisfaction on the progress made in the inaugural session.

He mentioned that the forum had enabled both countries to identify new areas of collaboration and provided an opportunity to exchange views on strategic and security issues. Defence ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka are based on mutual trust and commonality of interest in maintaining regional peace, security and stability.

The defence secretary was accompanied by senior officers from Ministries of Defence and Defence Production, JSHQ and GHQ.