Pakistan and Australia on Wednesday reiterated their commitment to strengthen their co-operation in all possible areas including further strengthening operational co-operation and intelligence sharing, immigration and border control, capacity building of law enforcing agencies, curbing transnational crimes and further cementing mutual co-operation at regional as well as international level.
This transpired during the meeting of the visiting Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan when the former called on the Interior Minister here in Punjab House Islamabad on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed a whole gamut of Pak-Australian bilateral relations ranging from the existing co-operation between the two countries in the ongoing fight against militancy and terrorism to the capacity building of the law-enforcement authorities of Pakistan in critical areas of intelligence gathering, investigation and prosecution of criminals and from finding way and means to further strengthen the mechanism of intelligence sharing to checking of international movement of the terrorists and their financing. Mutual co-operation on curbing transnational crimes, checking human smuggling, money laundering, border management and regional situation also came under discussion.
At the outset of the meeting Foreign Minister Julie Bishop appreciated the efforts of Pakistani government, armed forces and the people of Pakistan in the ongoing fight against militants and observed that the Australian Government and the people greatly appreciate countless sacrifices of Pakistan in an effort to make the region and the world safe from the menace of terrorism. She said that the Australian Government would continue to provide every possible assistance to the Government and the people of Pakistan in their fight against militancy.
The Interior Minister appreciated Australian Government's acknowledgement of Pakistan's efforts and observed that Australia was among those friends of Pakistan who have always shown greater understanding of the ground realities and have been appreciative of the immense sacrifices that our people have made. The Interior Minister also appreciated the Australian Government in providing valuable assistance towards capacity building of Pakistani law-enforcing agencies especially equipping and training them to effectively taking on the terrorists and the criminal elements.
Discussing fight against militants, the Interior Minister said that National Action Plan clearly reflects the will of the people of Pakistan in pursuing their struggle against militancy to its logical conclusion. He said that the political and the military leadership and indeed the entire society was united for this cause and is on the same page in the fight against militants. He said that the successes of operation Zarb-e-Azb have virtually broken backbone of the terrorist who are now on the run. But we are determined to pursue our struggle till we rid our region from the menace of terrorism.
The Interior Minister said that that there is a need to further strengthen our co-operation in the critical areas such as intelligence information sharing, disrupting international movement of terrorists, choking terrorists' financing, harmonizing our legal responses towards transnational crimes including the tackling issue of drugs and human trafficking. The Interior Minister also underscored the need for early ratification of extradition treaty between the two countries so as to further strengthen justice system of the two countries.
The two leaders also resolved to promote frequent interactions at all levels so as to forge a close working relationship for overcoming the issue of mutual concern. Julie Bishop reassured Interior Minister that Australia would continue to provide every possible assistance to the Government and the people of Pakistan to promote peace, stability and development in the region. The Australian Foreign Minister also extended invitation to the Interior Minister to visit Australia at his convenience.-PR