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Pakistan, U.S. Complete Talks To Strengthen Military Relations

08 May 2006

Joint military exercises, training activities to be held in 2007

Washington – The United States and Pakistan on May 5 wrapped up five days of talks designed to enhance the strategic relationship between the two countries.

The talks, led by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman and Pakistani Secretary of Defense Tariq Waseem Gahzi, focused on counterterrorism and ways to promote stability in South Asia.

The May 1-5 gathering in Washington was the 17th annual meeting of the U.S.-Pakistan Defense Consultative Group.  The next meeting is scheduled to take place in Pakistan in 2007.

The Military Cooperation Committee that met as part of the talks agreed to schedule military exercises and training activities in 2007.

Another working group on security assistance considered subjects that included Pakistani military equipment repair, technology transfers, upgraded or new weapons systems and the interoperability of equipment and tactics between the two nations.

The Counterterrorism Working Group focused on ways to synchronize and expand efforts against violent extremists.

The delegations reviewed successful joint humanitarian operations between Pakistan and the United States following the earthquake that hit Pakistan in October 2005, as well as progress in the war against terror.

Representatives from the two countries heard presentations on U.S. foreign policy objectives in South Asia, efforts to stabilize Afghanistan, and security measures and counterterrorism strategies along Pakistan’s borders.

The full text of May 5 joint statement and a press release on the 17th annual meeting of the U.S.-Pakistan Defense Consultative Group are available on the Defense Department Web site.

For additional information about U.S. humanitarian efforts, see U.S. Response to the Earthquake in South Asia.

For more information about counterterrorism, see Response to Terrorism.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)