By IRNA,
Islamabad : Visiting Australian defense minister Senator John Faulkner Monday met President Asif Ali Zardari and assured continued support of Australian Government’s to Pakistan in fighting the menace of terrorism, President office said.
The Australian defense Minister also appreciated Pakistan’s commitment to eliminate militancy, a statement from the President office said
Matters regarding bilateral relations, Pakistan’s fight against militancy and extremism and regional situation were discussed during the meeting, it said.
President Zardari called for further enhancing Australia – Pakistan bilateral partnership in all fields particularly defence, trade, investment, agriculture, energy and education sectors.
The President said that Pakistan is committed to curb militancy and violent extremism at every cost and said that our successes and sacrifices are vivid reflection of our focus on eliminating the scourge.
The Australian defence Minister was also accompanied by Dr. Ian Watt, secretary, department of defence, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, chief of Australian defence force, Mr. Tim George, and officials of Australian High Commission in Pakistan.
The President appreciated the Australian humanitarian assistance for IDPs and cooperation in the fields of education, agriculture and vocational training and said that heavy investments were needed in the field of education to defeat the militant and extremist mindset in the long run, the statement said.
The President while expressing satisfaction on the growing relationship between the two countries in various fields thanked the Australian government for enhancing development assistance to A$ 120 million over two years, offering defence post- graduate scholarship and providing 100 scholarships in the field of agriculture.
The President said that the MoU on Australian-Pakistan Development Partnership that has been finalized would help in further cementing the bilateral relations between the two countries. He expressed the hope that MoUs in other possible areas of cooperation may also be finalized soon to fully utilize the existing level of cooperation between the two countries.