'Pakistan attaches importance to its ties with Australia'

Pakistan and Australia have underlined the need for deeper and closer co-operation between the two countries in the areas of common interest.
The meeting held here on Wednesday between Caretaker Federal Minister for Defence and Defence Production, Syed Salim Abbass Jilani and Ms Zorica McCarthy, the Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, expressed satisfaction over the existing level of relationship and stressed the need for further expanding and strengthening bilateral co-operation in various fields for the mutual benefit of the two sides.
The minister informed the envoy that Pakistan attached great importance to its ties with Australia as the two countries enjoyed excellent relations and have commonality of perceptions on regional and international issues.
He also highlighted the counter-terrorism measures taken by Pakistan against the war on terror and reiterated the government's resolve to combating and eliminating the menace of terrorism and extremism. The Australian envoy lauded the key role played by Pakistan in this regard.