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Pakistan, Indonesia Unite In Terror-Combat, Defense Production
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Jamali
(R) talks with Megawati (L) during a meeting in Islamabad (AFP)
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Asif
Farooqi, IOL Correspondent
ISLAMABAD,
December 16 (IslamOnline.net) - Pakistan and Indonesia agreed on
Tuesday, December 16, to share their experiences in the fields trade and
terrorism combat and defense production, Pakistani officials said.
Following
talks between Pakistani Premier Zafarullah Jamali and visiting
Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, officials from both sides
signed three memos of understanding.
They
stipulate that the two Muslim nations "work towards free bilateral
trade, unite in fighting terrorism and collaborate in defense
production," a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the
signing ceremony said.
Megawati,
on her maiden visit to Pakistan, held talks with President Pervez
Musharraf and other senior officials besides leading bilateral talks
with Jamali and his cabinet.
The
inked agreements included the counter-terrorism pact called Combating
International Terrorism.
The
two countries also agreed to "initiate a consultative process for
arriving at preferential/zero tariff arrangements between their
countries", the joint statement said.
This
"should lead gradually towards arriving at a Free Trade Framework
Agreement," it added.
Bilateral
trade was 350 million dollars last year, with the balance heavily in
favor of Indonesia.
He
statement underlined that relations between Pakistan and Indonesia
"provide a solid foundation for further deepening their close
cooperative relations and friendship."
Pakistan
is lobbying Indonesia to help it gain full dialogue partner status with
the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), where
arch-rival India has summit partner status.
While
Musharraf praised Indonesia for its moderate approach towards Islam,
Megawati reciprocated by backing Pakistan's membership of the ASEAN
Regional Forum (ARF) security grouping.
Megawati
"expressed support for Pakistan's membership of the ASEAN Regional
Forum as well as Pakistan's desire to upgrade its relations with ASEAN
and become a full dialogue partner", a foreign ministry statement
said.
Pakistan
"wishes to consolidate its excellent relations with the
ASEAN," the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted Musharraf as
telling his Indonesian counterpart.
"We
believe that our close and active association with ASEAN processes would
be mutually beneficial."
He
also told Megawati there was a need to build synergies between Southeast
Asia and South Asia "to develop a win-win situation for the Asian
region as a whole."
Indonesian
Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda, who will hold the ASEAN rotating chair
in 2004, told his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri Tuesday
that Jakarta would support Pakistan's bid.
Wirayuda
"reiterated his country's support to Pakistan's membership of the
ASEAN Regional Forum," Kasuri said in a statement.
Pakistan's
total trade turnover with ASEAN countries stands at around 1.5 billion
dollars, whereas rival India's trade with the bloc is estimated at 12.5
billion dollars.
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