Prosperity of Pak, India hinges on friendly ties

ISLAMABAD Federal Minister for Defence, Ch Ahmad Mukhtar, has said that good relations between India and Pakistan can help bring stability and economic prosperity to the region. He expressed these views while talking to High Commissioner of New Zealand, Brian Sanders, who called on him here on Wednesday.
The Minister said that India needed to show flexibility to resolve all outstanding issues with Pakistan, which was essential for the economic and social prosperity of the entire region. He noted that Pakistan was facing enormous challenges and it was focusing its efforts on strengthening and equipping its Armed Forces to successfully overcome the challenges.
The meeting exchanged views on Pakistans anti-terror efforts and existing level of bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, economy and defence.
The Minister informed the envoy that Pakistan was committed to eliminating terrorism and extremism, and had succeeded to purge the troubled areas of Malakand Agency and FATA of terrorists and extremists.
He said Pakistan had deployed more than one hundred and thirty thousand troops on its western border and FATA to combat militancy and terrorism.
He informed the envoy the casualties of Pakistani security forces were more than the combined casualties of ISAF and NATO troops while fighting the evil forces of terrorism and extremism.
The envoy said that Pakistan had been playing a key role in the war on terror and his country was highly appreciative of Pakistans anti-terror efforts. He said that Pakistans support was crucial to defeat and eliminate the terrorist elements.