Nato praises Pakistan's contribution towards peace, stability in Afghanistan

[Neo]

ISLAMABAD (updated on: May 11, 2006, 19:39 PST): President General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday emphasised the need for continued support of the international community for peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan.

He was talking to a seven member Nato delegation headed by Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Alessandro Minuto Rizzo, accompanied by Nato's Senior Civil Representative in Afghanistan, Hikmet Cetin.

President Musharraf also expressed satisfaction at the growing cooperation between Pakistan and Nato. He thanked Ambassador Minuto Rizzo for Nato's prompt and substantive assistance in the wake of October 8 earthquake.

President General Pervez Musharraf also briefed Deputy Secretary General on Pakistan's role in the war against terrorism.

Ambassador Minuto Rizzo greatly praised President Musharraf's role in the war against terrorism and Pakistan's contribution towards peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The Nato Deputy Secretary General said that the organisation wanted to have a strategic relationship with Pakistan, which it considered an important country in the region.

Deputy Secretary General told the President that Nato's role as a strictly military organisation during the cold war was transforming now to adapt to the new realities.

He said for the first time the organisation had participated in relief and rehabilitation efforts in the aftermath of October 8 earthquake in Pakistan.

He said that through greater co-operation, misperceptions about Nato and its role could be removed.

Pakistan was declared Non-Nato ally in June 2004 and the organisation has offered number of training courses to the Pakistani armed forces.

Earlier Nato's Senior Civil Representative, Minister Hikmet Cetin called on the Foreign Minister and discussed matters of mutual interest.

The delegation will depart on Friday.

[Asim Aquil]

It's appreciated, Nato. Thank you.

[Officer of Engineers]

You know, even during my time at Brussels, I couldn't even remember when was the last time I listened to a suit at NATO HQ.

[Asim Aquil]

You know, even during my time at Brussels, I couldn't even remember when was the last time I listened to a suit at NATO HQ.

Weren't you supposed to?

[Officer of Engineers]

Why?

[Asim Aquil]

Why?

Part of the same team?

[Parihaka]

Part of the same team?

You haven't read much of his real life experiences have you?

[Neo]

Nato to establish military liaison office in Pakistan

By Asim Yasin

ISLAMABAD: The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) has decided to establish a military liaison office in Pakistan for strengthen cooperation with Pakistan, to combat terrorism.

“The details with the Pakistani officials would be discussed later on this proposal,” said Deputy Secretary-General Nato Allessandro Minuto Rizzo and Nato Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Hikmet Cetin while talking to a group of journalists here on Thursday after holding meeting with President General Pervez Musharraf.

Pakistan was declared non-Nato ally in June 2004 and the organization has offered number of training courses to the Pakistani armed forces. Deputy secretary general said that Nato has decided to develop strategic relation with Pakistan and offered to open all military schools and academies for Pakistan’s military as well as for civilians. Besides military relation, he said Nato also keen to initiate a public diplomacy to inform the people of Pakistan about its role and also political affairs with Pakistan. “Through greater cooperation, misperceptions about Nato and its role could be removed,” he added.

Nato deputy secretary general said that the organisation wants to have a strategic relationship with Pakistan, which it considered an important country in the region. He said Nato’s command in Afghanistan would expand its areas of operation from northern and western Afghanistan to southern Afghanistan. Ambassador Rizzo said they would like to develop relationship with Pakistan independently from Afghanistan. “Nato wants to develop new relations with the world and are arranging a summit in November, whose main theme would be the transformation of Nato from purely military organisation to a one, which would adapt itself to the new realities.

He gave the example of the October 8 earthquake in which for the first time Nato forces participated in relief and rehabilitation efforts in Pakistan. He said Nato-Pakistan relationship is a new one and he is here to know the country more as this part of the world is important.

Nato Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Hikmet Cetin said they wanted to have intelligence sharing with Pakistan and liked to develop military to military relationship, as terrorism is a common threat. He said security is the biggest challenge in Afghanistan and terrorism is a global threat and it needs global efforts.He said Nato would deploy around 8000 troops in Southern Afghanistan, which would petrol with Afghan Army and police. In a reply of question, he said a fencing of border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is a bilateral issue and they have to take this issue on bilaterally.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=773