Pakistan, Malaysia agree to further expand defence cooperation

KUALALUMPUR: Pakistan and Malaysia have agreed to further expand cooperation in all spheres of mutual interest particularly in defence sector.

This was agreed during the 13th round of Pakistan-Malaysia Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation (JCDC) held in Kuala Lumpur from 25-27 February 2019.

According to a statement released from the ministry, Lt Gen (retd) Ikram Ul Haq, Secretary Defence led the Pakistani delegation at the JCDC meeting, the highest forum of defence collaboration between the two countries. While Dato Halimi Bin Abd Manaf, Secretary General Ministry of Defence Malaysia headed his country’s team.

During the JCDC meeting, both sides exchanged views on issues relating to regional security and bilateral defence collaboration. The two Sub Committees of JCDC dealing respectively with Defence Industry and Military Training Cooperation reviewed the progress since the last meeting and discussed new avenues of collaboration in greater detail.

The meeting was especially significant as it was held as a follow up of the decision taken during the prime minister’s visit to Malaysia in November last year wherein both sides had agreed to explore and expand defence cooperation.

Prior to formal talks, the Secretary Defence called on Tuan Haji Mohamad Sabu, Defence Minister, General Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, Chief of Defence Forces and his Malaysian counterpart and discussed matters of mutual interest.

The Pakistani delegation also visited Defence Industrial Units of Sapura, Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation (BHIC) and AERO Services (Aviation Company).