Pakistan's Joint Chief of Staff Committee Chairman General Muhammad Aziz Khan has met Turkmenistan President Saparmurat Niyazov Ataevich in the Turkmen capital, an official statement said. Khan, currently on a visit to Turkmenistan, discussed with the Turkmen president matters of bilateral cooperation including defence ties. Ataevich appreciated the level of warm friendly relations between Pakistan and Turkmenistan and specially his close rapport with President Pervez Musharraf whom he regards as a brother, the statement said. He welcomed the defense cooperation between Pakistan and Turkmenistan especially in the field of training of personnel and said the two countries enjoy close bilateral relations. Khan conveyed to him the best wishes and warm regards of President Musharraf and assured him of Pakistan's commitment to further expanding this cooperation and closer liaison between the Armed Forces and military institutes of the two countries. Issues relating to security in the region also also came under discussion.
