Top level Pakistani Army delegation to visit Sri Lanka

The Island
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A high level Pakistan Army delegation is visiting Sri Lanka from March 6-11. It is headed by Lieutenant General Muzammil Hussain, Inspector General Training & Evaluation, Pakistan Army. The Pakistan Army delegation comprises of senior officers from operation, training and other important fields, who will interact with their counterparts in Sri Lankan Army to share each other’s professional experience. Besides staff level conferences, the delegation will also visit Srilanka Army training institutions like Defence Services Command and Staff College and the Srilankan Military Academy etc.

It is the next high level defence related visit from Pakistan after the Chief of Army Staff Pakistan Army visited Sri Lanka in January this year. The visit will further strengthen the bond of friendship between the armed forces of Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The General belongs to illustrious Baloch Regiment (SARBAKAF) of Pak-Army. General Muzammil has served at various coveted posts all along his professional career. Lieutenant General Muzammil Hussain HI (M) was commissioned in 12 Baloch Regiment (SARBAKAF) an Infantry Battalion in 1978. He attended Armed Forces War Course 2003 – 04 and was posted on the prestigious slot of Chief Instructor in Command and Staff College Quetta. He subsequently served on the coveted slot of the Chief of Staff in a Corps Headquarters.

He was promoted to the rank of Major General in 2007. He commanded Force Command Northern Areas (FCNA), a deployed formation of Pakistan Army. He also served as Director General Military Training in 2010. On promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General, he took over as Inspector General Training and Evaluation in Oct 2010.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka being located in the South Asian region and being members of various regional and international bodies like UN, commonwealth, NAM and SAARC are mutually important for each others. The relationship between Pakistan and Srilanka is based on mutual trust and commonality of interest in maintaining regional peace, security and stability. Pakistan has always supported the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. Both countries have shared common perceptions on almost all regional and international issue and are working together on all these forums for shared values and interests.

Pakistan is the 2nd largest trading partner of Sri Lanka within the South Asian region. The level of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Sri Lanka increased as a result of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Trade between the two countries increased from US$ 150 million to over US$ 300 million during the last three years, as it doubled within a short period of time with the positive support gained from the FTA.

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