Pakistan-France to enhance defence ties: French Ambassador
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ISLAMABAD: (APP) Ambassador of France to Pakistan Martine Dorance Wednesday called on Secretary Defence Lt Gen (Retd) Zameer-ul-Hassan Shah.
The two sides discussed matters relating to national and regional security, exchange of information, bilateral defence cooperation, crisis management efforts, early finalization of the Letter of Intent between National Defence University (NDU) and Institute for Higher National Defence Studies (IHNDS) France besides arrangements for the 5th meeting of Pak-France Joint Security Commission.
According to a press release issued here, the ambassador congratulated Secretary Defence on assumption of office and successful conduct of IDEAS-2016 - a defence exhibition.
The two sides were of the view that national and regional security was an important and common concern.
The two countries can help each other by sharing and exchanging information to monitor the foreign combatant elements involved in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq which have become new centauries for such elements.
The secretary defence apprised the French envoy about efforts of Pakistan army in countering terrorism and sought technical support from France.
He also thanked the ambassador for providing assistance to the Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan.
The ambassador gave a brief account of crisis management system in France.
Zameer-ul-Hassan Shah said that Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority could learn from France expertise in this sector.
The ambassador expressed hope that Letter of Intent for cooperation between NDU and IHNDS can be signed during the next meeting of Pak-France Joint Security Commission proposed to be held in first quarter of 2017 in France.
She apprised the Secretary Defence about the arrangements of the meeting and assured that French side would positively consider the agenda to be proposed by Pakistan.
The secretary defence apprised the ambassador about the situation on the LoC and stated that Pakistan Army only retaliated the unprovoked violence by the Indian Army.
It is feared that such prolonged situation could escalate due to miscalculation, Secretary Defence said adding that international community should take serious notice of the situation.
The ambassador assured that international community as well as European Union were aware of the situation of LoC and it was their public position that Pakistan and India should talk together to normalize the situation and promote good relations between the two countries.
The ambassador invited the secretary to visit France for the fifth meeting of Pak-France Joint Security Commission. The Secretary Defence thanked the ambassador.
