Pakistan, Sri Lanka for 'Comprehensive Engagement‪'‬

COLOMBO -- Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Sunday agreed on expanding their relationship from beyond political and defence paradigm to an "overall comprehensive engagement" including trade, joint investments and cooperation in new areas. President Zardari in a one-on-one meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapakse at the Presidential Secretariat overlooking the Indian Ocean, held extensive talks on bilateral, regional and global issues. During the exclusive meeting that lasted for one hour, the two presidents agreed on taking the existing level of Pak-Sri Lankan relationship to "new heights", encompassing a multi-sectoral engagement in addition to defence, that had been a major sector of collaboration between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the past. President Zardari said Pakistan greatly valued its close relationship with Sri Lanka and said both countries always stood by each other in turbulent times and shared commonality of views on regional security.