Moot on Pak-US Group on Counter-Terrorism Ends
Pakistan Times Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The third meeting of the Pakistan-U.S. Joint Working Group on Counter-terrorism and Law Enforcement ended here Friday with both sides expressing satisfaction over the level of cooperation.

During the two-day meeting, in-depth discussions were held on issues relating to law enforcement, counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, mutual legal assistance, trafficking in persons and capacity building and training.

"Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the level of cooperation and reaffirmed their determination to improve such efforts and to work closely in the mutual interest of both countries," a foreign office statement said after the meeting.

The Parleys

Pakistan's Interior Secretary Tariq Mahmud and J. Cofer Black, Coordinator for Counter-terrorism led their respective sides at the talks.

The American delegation also included Deputy Assistant Secretary Steve Schrage of the Department of Stat's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Bruce Swartz from the Department of Justice Criminal Division.

Joint Working Group

The two sides agreed that the Joint Working Group was an important forum for identifying and developing programmes in agreed areas of bilateral interest.

They agreed to hold the next session of the Pakistan-U.S. Joint Working Group on Counter-terrorism and Law Enforcement in Washington D.C in 2005 on dates to be mutually decided.●