Meeting held to enhance defence cooperation
Pakistan and Japan agree to boost bilateral ties after Covid situation improves
Pakistan and Japan have agreed to enhance their defence and security cooperation in a rare high-level contact between Pakistan’s Army Chief and Japan’s Defence Minister.
In a videoconference on August 6, General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Defence Minister of Japan, Taro Kono, discussed “matters of mutual interest, military to military ties, defence and security cooperation” according to the Pakistan military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
During the interaction, both sides agreed to resume staff level talks as soon as the COVID situation improves and enhance bilateral defence cooperation, especially in the fields of training, joint exercises and anti-piracy measures. The two countries decided to vigorously promote defence cooperation and exchanges while maintaining communication between the defence officials.
Japanese Defence Minister Kono indicated the importance of both countries in maintaining seamless defence posture and continued and “strengthened bilateral defence cooperation to uphold and reinforce the free and open Indo-Pacific taking into consideration the implication of Covid-19”, according
to a press release issued by the Japanese embassy.
The Japanese minister commended Pakistan’s role for regional peace and stability, especially the efforts of the Pakistan Army in battling the scourge of terrorism.
Counter-measures
Pakistan and Japan also discussed counter-measures and implications of the spread of Covid-19 on defence policy of each country and decided to share information and lessons learnt on the measures by the defence authorities to overcome the pandemic. The role of armed forces and defence organisations in the fight against coronavirus was also reviewed in the meeting.