Visiting Chief of the Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan says Sri Lanka has an important role to play in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Pledging support to strengthening intelligence sharing with Sri Lanka, the Pakistan Air Chief said the two Indian Ocean nations share common threats and challenges due to terrorism which has become a global phenomenon.
Visiting, Air Chief Marshal Khan had also expressed Pakistan’s assistance to counter drug trafficking and human smuggling activities when he met Defense Secretary Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne at the Ministry, today (10).
Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan arrived in the country on Wednesday (05) on an official visit.
While mentioning his fruitful discussions with the Prime Minister and the Tri Forces commanders, he said both countries had stood for each other during their difficult times and praised the country’s post Easter Sunday measures that effectively contained the repetition of such an attack in the country.
Defense Secretary Major General Gunaratne giving a brief explanation on the Humanitarian Operations said under the leadership of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was the then Defense Secretary and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was the then President, the country was able to eradicate terrorism once and for all.
He also drew attention to the reintegration of over 12,000 ex- LTTE cadres under a successful comprehensive rehabilitation process that enabled them to reintegrate into the society to lead peaceful lives with their families.
Stressing the importance of combatting drug trafficking, Major General Gunaratne said that Pakistan had one of the most effective intelligence capabilities which could also benefit Sri Lanka in the fight against illegal drug trafficking and human smuggling.
“It is a difficult task with the present prison system but we stand firm on our cause to get rid of the drug menace from our shores,” he said underlying the importance that the present administration has given to thes issue.
The Pakistani Air Force chief also pledged assistance to provide more training opportunities to Sri Lanka Air Force.
