Article Posted on : - Dec 29, 2011

ISLAMABAD (PTI): Pakistan on Wednesday offered to continue defence cooperation with Maldives, including the training of armed forces personnel, to boost bilateral ties between the two countries.

In meeting with the Defence Minister of Maldives Tholhath Ibrahim, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that Pakistan wanted to cooperate in the fields of education, information technology and training of civilian personnel.

In a separate meeting with Ibrahim, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar called for further exploring prospects of military cooperation between the two countries.

Mukhtar expressed satisfaction on the ongoing military cooperation, including training and transfer of military gear to the Maldives.

Gilani and Mukhtar told Ibrahim of Pakistan's commitment to take the war on terror to its logical conclusion and the need for a "reconciliation process and social development" in militancy-affected areas.

The Maldivian delegation is on a three-day visit to Pakistan, during which Ibrahim will meet the political and military leadership and visit several defence production facilities.

During the meeting Ibrahim thanked the Pakistan premier for the assistance provided by Pakistan to the Maldives for holding the recent SAARC Summit at Addu.

Pakistan had provided logistical support, including equipment, vehicles, security kits, medicines and training facilities.

Ibrahim also called on Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chairman Gen Khalid Shameem Wynne. They discussed matters of mutual interest and bilateral defence cooperation, a military statement said.