Zardari, Rajapakse vow to defeat terror, expand ties to ‘new heights’

COLOMBO - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has held a meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapakse during which the two sides agreed on defeating terrorism as well as expanding their relationship to an “overall comprehensive engagement”.

During the meeting in Colombo, which lasted for an hour, the two presidents also agreed on taking the existing level of Pakistan-Sri Lankan relationship to “new heights”, encompassing a multi-sector engagement in addition to defence, which had been a major sector of collaboration between the countries in the past.

Zardari said that Pakistan greatly valued its close relationship with Sri Lanka, and stressed that both countries always stood by each other in turbulent times and shared commonality of views on regional security, the Daily Times reports.

He also said Pakistan was happy to note that the Sri Lankan government had been able to defeat terrorism, and stressed the need for continued intensive cooperation to counter this menace.

The president further emphasized the need to reactivate the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) to facilitate bilateral economic cooperation and monitor its progress. (ANI)