ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and United States on Tuesday agreed to boost
cooperation to fight terrorism, organized crimes and curb drug
smuggling and use of improvised explosive device (IED) explosives. The
differences between both countries on visa issue have also settled.
Pakistan
and the United States held a fourth ministerial-level strategic
dialogue on law and enforcement and counterterrorism in Islamabad.
During
the dialogue, both sides reviewed mechanisms to detect and deter
financing of terrorist groups and discuss ways to increase cooperation
and information-sharing on terror financiers.
The talks also focused on cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries.
Interior
Minister Rehman Malik led the Pakistani delegation while William R.
Brownfield, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for International Law
Enforcement and Narcotics Affairs led the American delegation.
The
group, which deals with strengthening Pakistan’s law enforcement
agencies in counter-terrorism, had earlier met in Washington last
October where the two sides had agreed to take steps to enhance
cooperation.
After first round of talks, interior minister in a
joint stakeout with William R. Brownfield called for checking arms and
ammunition supply to Pakistan, saying that arms supply to militants has
complicated the situation in the country.
Malik said that
foreign hand is involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan, adding
that terrorists are being funded and equipped with arms by foreign
elements. He did not directly blame any country.
Dubbing IED a ‘lethal weapon’, the interior minister said, we would have to work together to curb use of IED by terrorists.
He
further pointed out that around 11,024 people died and 25,291 were
injured in incidents involving IED, while 1972 buildings, 79 bridges,
360 electric poles and 231 railway tracks were also destroyed by IEDs
in various areas of Pakistan.
The terrorists are our common
enemies, he said. Replying to a question, he said, Pakistan has
temporally banned export of fertilizer to Afghanistan, however, we can
not slap total ban in this respect.
He said a forum would be
setup to enhance capability of security forces. An academy under the
aegis of United States of America would be constructed to train experts
to curb IEDs.
Pakistan is sincerely waging war against
terrorism and extremism, he said. Pakistan, Afghanistan and United
States of America would have to work together for peace in the region.
He
demanded of the international community not to ignore Pakistan’s
sacrifices in war against terror. Pakistan daily faces incidents like
9/11, he said. Visa, he said, would be given to American in accordance
with the law. Both countries should respect laws of each other, he
said.
Replying to a question, the interior minister said,
terrorists, who fled from Swat and other tribal areas, were getting
treatment at hospitals in Afghanistan. “I would travel to Kabul to take
up the issue”, he said. He said he would talk to Afghan leadership
about biometric system at Pak afghan border, besides attacks of Afghan
Taliban into Pakistan’s tribal areas.
US Assistant Secretary of
State for International Narcotics and Law William Brownfield said that
the main agenda of the strategic dialogue taking place in Islamabad was
to save lives of people around the world, ‘especially Pakistani,
Afghani and American lives’.
He said that the United States is
providing training to police and other law enforcement agencies to
effectively tackle terrorism. He said his country will continue
cooperation to boost the capability of Pakistani police to effectively
deal with terrorists.
Replying to a question, he said, US would continue to assist Pakistan in fight against terror. Online
