Molly Kilete, Abuja
Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has commended the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for assisting the Nigerian Army with Radio Communication equipment to boost its operations in the ongoing counter-terrorism war.
Gen. Buratai has also solicited the support of Pakistani Army on training, intelligence and logistics to end terrorism in the country.
The Army chief made the appeal when he received the visiting High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Wagar Ahmed Kingravi, in his office at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
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Gen. Buratai, in a statement signed by Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, promised to collaborate with Pakistan to tap from its wealth of experience, especially on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency.
Gen. Chukwu, in the statement said, “The Nigerian Army has indicated its interest to collaborate with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on training, intelligence, radio communication, logistics support among others.
“The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, indicated the interest today when he received the visiting High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Nigeria, His Excellency Maj.-Gen. Wagar Ahmed Kingravi, at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
“Gen Buratai recalled that Nigeria and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan have enjoyed great military collaborations ranging from exchange training at Junior and Senior Staff Courses and at the National Defence College; capacity development of Nigerian Army personnel, platforms acquisition amongst others.
“He expressed the readiness of the Nigerian Army to continue to partner with the Pakistani Army in order to tap from its wealth of experience, especially on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency.
“He acknowledged the role played by the Pakistani Armed Forces in assisting the Nigerian Army with Radio Communication equipment in the fight against insurgency.”
The COAS also commended the successes the Nigerian Army had recorded in the operations, particularly in the North East part of the country.
He assured the High Commissioner that the Nigerian Army would continue to partner with Pakistan with a view to increasing capacity required to enable it enhance its capability in tackling security challenges in the country.
“Earlier, the High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, His Excellency Maj.-Gen, Wagar Ahmed Kingravi, thanked the COAS for receiving him.
“Ambassador BN Reddy, also thanked the COAS for receiving him, saying he was proud of the relationship that exist between the two countries, especially in military cooperation.
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“He added that Nigeria and his country share similar challenges noting that the cooperation would go a long way in helping both countries to tackle them.
“The High Commissioner commended the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Lt Gen TY Buratai, for performing beyond measure in the fight against terrorism. He further sought for the interest of the leadership of the Nigerian Army for its troops to be trained by the Pakistan Army, either in Nigeria or in Pakistan.
“According to him, his country’s army has the capacity to train a Battalion strength of Special Forces of the Nigerian Army.
“The visit was attended by some Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters as well as the Defence Attaché to Nigeria.
The event climaxed with the exchange of souvenirs between the COAS and the High Commissioner”.