ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and Russia have signed an agreement to further enhancedefence cooperation.

An agreement to this effect, was signed during a delegation level meetingbetween Caretaker Defence Minister Naeem Khalid Lodhi and Russian DeputyDefence Minister Col Gen. Alexander V. Fomin in Rawalpindi today.

Under the agreement, service members of Pakistan can get training inRussian institutions.

The delegation is visiting Pakistan to attend first session ofRussia-Pakistan Joint Military Consultative Committee.

The two sides discussed the present status of their bilateral defencerelations with the aim to further strengthen, expand and diversify mutualcooperation. JMCC is the highest forum of defence collaboration betweenPakistan and Russia.

During the inaugural session of the JMCC, both sides exchanged views onbilateral and major international issues including situation in the MiddleEast and Afghanistan.

A comprehensive issue based review was also carried out during which thetwo countries expressed satisfaction on the milestones achieved since thesigning of ground breaking Agreement on Defence Cooperation in 2014.

The two sides also held in depth discussions on avenues of futurecooperation.