Top Pakistani and U.S. officials Tuesday opened
counterterrorism talks in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, aimed at
boosting cooperation to fight terrorism, organized crimes and curb drug
smuggling, officials said.
Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who is leading Pakistani
side in the talks, in his opening statement called for checking arms
and ammunition supply to Pakistan, saying that arms supply to militants
has complicated the situation in the country.
Ambassador William R. Brownfield, the U.S. assistant secretary of
state for International Law Enforcement and Narcotics Affairs, is
leading the American delegation in the talks of the Law Enforcement and
Counterterrorism Working Group of the U.S.- Pakistan Strategic Dialogue.
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.
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.
Official sources said both sides would further review mechanisms to
detect and deter financing of terrorist groups and discuss ways to
increase cooperation and information-sharing on terror financiers. They
said the talks will also focus on cooperation between the law
enforcement agencies of the two countries.
Ambassador William R. Brownfield 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.
The talks are being held at a time when cooperation between the two
sides has been affected following the covert and unilateral U. S.
military operation to kill al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad
on May 2.
Pakistan condemned the unilateral raid and described it as against the country's sovereignty. Xinhua
