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Australia, Pakistan sign counter-terrorism pact
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf committed his country to strengthening counter-terrorism ties with Australia in a bid to rein in Al-Qaeda and other militant networks. A memorandum of understanding signed Wednesday before Musharraf and Prime Minister John Howard at Parliament House here allows for joint training exercises between the Australian and Pakistani security forces as well as the sharing of sensitive intelligence.Musharraf, who is the first Pakistani head of state to visit Australia, said he had briefed Howard and senior cabinet members on the work his government had done to stamp out Pakistan-based militants.
Australian officials have been concerned about the possibility that there are terror training camps within Pakistan. Three of the four people facing terror charges in Australia are thought to have had some training in Pakistan. Musharraf acknowledged Tuesday it was likely that Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan but said that no country had done more than his to fight terror at home.
Musharraf has been a strong ally of the United States since Al-Qaeda launched the September 11 attacks and has captured, killed or deported some 700 members of the network. "I personally, and the Australian government, admire his courageous participation and that of his country in the fight against terrorism," Howard said. Howard echoed comments made by the Pakistani leader on Tuesday that trade and investment could help stamp out the poverty that is seen as a breeding ground for militancy. "I believe that the greatest contribution that the wealthy, developed world could make to the less developed world would be to break down trade barriers," Howard told reporters. Speaking at a luncheon later, Howard likened Australia's warming relationship with Pakistan to its closer ties with its northern neighbour, Indonesia, under the leadership of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who visited Australia earlier this year. Howard said both Pakistan and Indonesia were "pillars or examplars of moderate Islam" and deserved more credit for installing democratic rule. Musharraf, who has used his historic three-day visit to push for stronger trade ties between the nations, said he had asked for support in joint ventures and investment in agriculture, dairy, livestock and mining. Pakistan is also lobbying for Australia's support in joining Asian trade blocs such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. "Where East Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, China and Australia are cooperating economically within the region, our region (South Asia) is out of the loop because of the conflicts, because of the tension," Musharraf said at the luncheon. Howard, who will visit India next month, praised Musharraf's role in the warming of relations between Pakistan and India, which remain in dispute over the Himalayan region of Kashmir.
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