DNA
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and France convened the 8th Round of their Joint Security Commission in Islamabad on Tuesday, reaffirming their commitment to deepening security and defence cooperation and agreeing to continue bilateral dialogue on emerging challenges.
The Pakistani delegation was led by Lt. Gen. (Retd) Muhammad Ali, Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, while the French side was headed by Mr. Nicolas Roche, Secretary General for Defence and National Security (SGDSN).
According to a joint press release issued after the session, the two sides held high-level exchanges on matters relating to security and defence cooperation and reviewed the status of issues discussed during the 7th Round of the Joint Security Commission, which was held in Paris in 2022.
Both delegations reiterated their commitment to further strengthening and implementing cooperation in line with the Pakistan-France Roadmap for Bilateral Cooperation (2023), and agreed to continue bilateral dialogue and engagement. The next Staff Talks, they noted, will provide an opportunity to assess defence cooperation and carry forward the bilateral dialogue.
The delegations also exchanged views on regional security developments, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy and dialogue in addressing emerging security challenges and promoting peace. They reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in countering terrorism and addressing related security challenges, including drug trafficking, piracy, and other forms of transnational organized crime.
The Pakistan-France Joint Security Commission serves as an institutionalized mechanism for consultations on security and defence matters, providing an important platform for regular exchanges on matters of mutual interest.
It was decided that the next round of the mechanism will be held in France on mutually agreed dates.
