Pakistan and France reaffirm commitment to strengthen defence ties, counterterrorism cooperation

Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Tuesday reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and expanding defence and security cooperation with France during talks with French Secretary General for Defence and National Security Nicolas Roche.

According to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Roche, accompanied by French Ambassador to Pakistan Jean-Noël Poirier, called on Field Marshal Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, including regional security and bilateral cooperation in defence and security domains, were discussed,” the statement said.

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During the interaction, Field Marshal Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and further enhancing defence and security cooperation.

Roche acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability and reciprocated France’s interest in expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest, according to the ISPR.

Separately, Pakistan and France reiterated their commitment to further strengthening and implementing cooperation under the Pakistan-France Roadmap for Bilateral Cooperation (2023) during the eighth round of the Pakistan-France Joint Security Commission.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Defence Secretary Lt Gen (retd) Muhammad Ali led the Pakistani delegation at the meeting in Islamabad, while the French delegation was led by Roche.

The commission provided an opportunity for high-level exchanges on matters relating to security and defence cooperation, while also reviewing the status of issues discussed during the seventh round of the Joint Security Commission held in Paris in 2022.

“The two sides reiterated their commitment to further strengthening and implementation of cooperation in line with the Pakistan-France Roadmap for Bilateral Cooperation (2023),” the statement said.

The two countries also agreed to continue bilateral dialogue and engagement.

The statement said the next staff talks would provide an opportunity to assess defence cooperation and continue bilateral dialogue and engagement.

The delegations also exchanged views on regional security developments and emphasised 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 organised crime,” the statement said.

The Joint Security Commission is an institutionalised mechanism for consultations on security and defence matters, providing a platform for regular exchanges on matters of mutual interest.

The two sides decided that the next round of the mechanism would be held in France on mutually agreed dates, the statement concluded.