Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC April 15, 2003
Second Annual U.S.-Pakistan Joint Working Group on Counterterrorism and Law EnforcementOn April 11, 2003, Ambassador J. Cofer Black, Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Paul Simons, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and Bruce Swarts, U.S. Department of Justice Deputy Assistant Attorney General hosted the second annual U.S.-Pakistan Joint Working Group on Counterterrorism and Law Enforcement at the Department of State. Mr. Tasneem Noorani, Secretary within Pakistan's Ministry of Interior, led the Pakistani delegation. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Christina Rocca delivered opening remarks.
The two governments discussed law enforcement topics including counterterrorism and counternarcotics. The U.S. participants, which included representatives of the Departments of State and Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, praised the Government of Pakistan’s strong and sustained support on counterterrorism matters and cited the arrest of numerous suspected terrorists such as Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. The group also discussed ongoing and expanded efforts for further assistance to the Government of Pakistan in the areas of border security, counternarcotics, counterterrorism, law enforcement reform, mutual legal assistance, and related areas. Potential areas of regional cooperation, particularly with Afghanistan, were also discussed.
The Joint Working Group was established during Pakistani President Musharraf’s official visit to Washington in February 2002.
Released on April 15, 2003
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