KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (Bernama) -- Defence relations between Malaysia and Pakistan have been very encouraging in recent years and both countries are committed to further strengthening the cooperation in the future.
"Wherever we can help Malaysia, we are more than 100 percent willing to help. There is no secret between Malaysia and Pakistan," Pakistan's Defence Secretary Lt Gen (Rtd) Hamid Nawaz Khan said.
"We would welcome any sharing of weapons and defence technology," he told Bernama in an exclusive interview at the Pakistani High Commission here.
The two countries set up a Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation in 1997 to serve as a platform to expand defence ties.
The joint committee, jointly chaired by Hamid and Malaysia's Defence Ministry Secretary-General Tan Sri Hashim Meon, held its fourth meeting here recently.
Hamid also met Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Thursday at the Defence Ministry here.
Hamid said to widen and deepen the defence cooperation, the committee had set up two sub-committees concentrating on the aspects of training and weaponry.
He noted that Malaysian and Pakistani armed forces personnel had been attending major military exercises as well as exchanging officers for training conducted in both countries.
"We would identify new areas. We are very satisfied with what we have achieved. The Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, is very supportive and enthusiastic with the (joint committee) meeting and its outcome," he said.
Besides that, he said a number of Pakistani doctors also served in the Malaysian armed forces.
He said Malaysia and Pakistan should intensify and focus their cooperation on the field of conventional armaments as the aspect knew "no boundaries".
The Pakistani government would also recommend its newly-developed, state-of-the-art "Al-Khalid" Main Battle Tank (MBT) to Malaysia, said Hamid.
"The tank is comparable with other tanks in the world, and we hope it will be inducted into the Malaysian army," he said.
Asked about biased opinions on the quality and accuracy of Pakistan-made weapons systems, Hamid said the systems would be tested by prospective buyers before an agreement for their purchase was signed.
"We are producing this armament for our defence forces. If the armament is inferior to the equipment that could be used against us, then I don't think we are being sincere to our own troops," he said.
In 2001, Malaysia purchased several weapons systems from Pakistan, namely the "Baktar Shikan" anti-tank guided weapon, "Anza MKII" shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missile, RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade and several types of conventional ammunition.
Hamid said what was more important was that Pakistan would not be doing any justice to its interests if it was to sell an inferior weapons system to a close friend like Malaysia.
"We know the environment where the weapons would be used, which are very effective. That is why we want our friends to have them. It is not sufficient just to hear someone's opinion," he said.
For example, the "Baktar Shikan" used by the Malaysian army has a 90 percent hit-probability against any static and mobile land target.
"They just don't miss their target," said Hamid.
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