| Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have launched an effort to complete a defense cooperation agreement that would pave the way for weapons sales by Islamabad to Riyad. The effort took place over the weekend during a visit by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to Saudi Arabia. Officials said Musharraf’s meetings with Saudi officials focused on defense and security cooperation as well as prospective weapons sales. Musharraf, who ended his visit on late Sunday, was accompanied by four ministers including Minister of State for Defense Production Habibullah Warraich. The Pakistani delegation met Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz and Saudi intelligence chief Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Bandar, and a Saudi statement said the meetings were meant to bolster bilateral relations. Western diplomatic sources said that over the last year Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been discussing cooperation in counterinsurgency, missiles, nuclear weapons and military aircraft. They said Pakistan has sought to win Saudi approval for the signing of contracts in some of these fields. |