ISLAMABAD - Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation (JCDC) of Pakistan and Malaysia visited Pakistan Ordnance Factory (PAF), Wah, and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra, on Tuesday to examine production of defence equipments.
Secretary Defence Lt Gen (Retd) Muhammad Alam Khattak led the Pakistani delegation whereas Malaysian delegation was headed by Dato Sri Dr Haji Ismail Ahmad bin Haji Ahmad, secretary general, ministry of defence.
According to defence ministry, the delegation visited Pakistan’s defence industries in Wah, Taxila and Kamra on Tuesday. Malaysia is interested in the defence production equipment being produced at the defence industries on the basis of self-reliance.
The delegation was shown the state-of-the-art bulletproof jackets with high resistance capacity being produced by Pakistan. The joint committee on defence, science, technology and industrial cooperation under ministry of defence production reached various agenda points which will be considered in the next JCDC to be held in Malaysia. These points will open avenues of defence cooperation between the two countries.
Earlier on Monday, the inaugural session opened with comments by heads of both the delegations.
Pakistani side gave a presentation on security perspective of Pakistan with specific reference to war on terror, Pakistan’s role and sacrifices and post-drawdown security challenges.
Secretary Defence Khattak said that Pakistan has rendered great sacrifices in terms of men and money in this regard. He stressed that Pakistani forces are conducting operation Zarb-e-Azb to cleanse terrorism. “It is an across the board operation which is targeting all terror groups,” he added.
He added that Pakistan has a very important place in the region and the Pakistani armed forces are playing a key role in stopping the spillover of war in Afghanistan. “We are the affectees of terrorism yet we are not only fighting it but also protecting the region.” He termed Pakistan as “the fulcrum of security for South Asia.”
Later, Malaysian side apprised the Pakistani participants on Malaysian military commitments in Afghanistan and Lebanon.
Both sides agreed to collaborate in the fields of training, bilateral visits, participation in military exercises and defence products. The co-chairmen emphasised that the military cooperation should be result-oriented and agreed to monitor progress on biannual basis.
The sub-committees reviewed the progress of their last meetings held in September 2013 in Malaysia and deliberated on promoting defence cooperation in the areas of mutual interest, besides discussing fresh issues proposed by each side.
It was mutually decided by the secretary defence and Malaysian secretary general that next round of JCDC will be convened in Malaysia in 2015-16.