RAWALPINDI - Pakistan and Belarus have decided to develop a plan of action for establishing military and technical cooperation between the two countries.
The 7th International Exhibition of Arms and Military Machinery (MILEX-2014) being held in Minsk, Belarus explored ways for developing bilateral cooperation as the Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain held meetings with senior officials and agreed to develop a plan of action for establishing military and technical cooperation between the two countries.
The minister is currently attending the exhibition along with Additional Secretary Maj-Gen Raza Muhammad and Defence Attache of the Embassy of Pakistan to the Russian Federation Brig Shahid Mahmood Kayani.
Rana Tanveer Hussain held meetings with Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Yuri Zhadobin, Chairman of the State Military and Industrial Committee of the Republic of Belarus Sergei Gurulev, Director of STC ‘LEMT’ Belarus Alexey Shkadarevich, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Makei, Director of Defense Initiatives Company Denis Pashchenko and First Deputy Director General of SFTUE ‘Belvneshpromservice’ Sergei Bufal.
All these were high level meetings after which both sides announced their interest in establishing mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of defence production.
Both sides agreed to develop a plan of action for establishing military and technical cooperation between the two countries.
The Pakistani side has invited Yuri Zhadobin, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus, to visit the 8th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar ‘IDEAS-2014’ going to be held on December 14 in Karachi. The minister highlighted the strides Pakistan had made in the field of Defence Production and significantly talked about the ace aircraft JF-17 being manufactured in Pakistan.  He added that Pakistan was producing the best armament and heavy machinery.  “Our APCs are of B6 protection and we are also developing B7 protection vehicles,” he said.
“These are low cost and state of the art equipment and Pakistan is proud of such developments”.  He said Pakistan was looking forward to explore international markets and wanted the world to support it in its endeavors.
Tanveer, during the visit of the stalls at the exhibition, expressed interest in Belarusian electronic warfare means, optical and optical-electronic devices (particularly, night vision & thermal vision devices), spare parts for tanks and armored personnel carriers and explored areas of joint ventures.  A possibility to establish service centers and technical maintenance centers were also explored.
The Belarusian side has announced opening the embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 1st September, 2014, as well as introduced the Pakistani side to the future extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Pakistan.
The Belarusian side has accepted the Pakistani side’s invitation to take part in the ‘IDEAS-2014’ Exhibition, and announced its intention to arrange a joint booth with the concerned companies of the defence sector of the economy of the Belarus.