Pakistan's delegation was led by Secretary of Defence Lieutenant General Asif Yasin Malik (retired), and the US side by Dr James N Miller, the US Under-Secretary of Defence for Policy. According to joint statements issued after the two-day meeting, both sides reviewed numerous challenges facing regional security, and shared their views regarding the importance of regional peace and stability. The US and Pakistan also discussed the importance of the Coalition Support Fund and Security Assistance Programmes, and agreed to continue consultations.
The Pakistani delegation provided an update on its military campaign along its western border and the US side briefed on International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) activities in Afghanistan. In light of the November 2011 cross-border incident, both sides appreciated the efforts by their respective militaries to improve operational co-ordination. They expressed their deep appreciation for the sacrifices of all military personnel and civilians in the common fight. Both sides welcomed the resumption of bilateral security cooperation and agreed that relations between the two countries should be based on principles of strategic desirability, political sustainability, trust and mutual respect.
They also acknowledged that bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation had been critical to weakening violent extremists and underscored the importance of continuing cooperation to complete the defeat of al Qaeda and its affiliates in the region. Both sides affirmed their mutual commitment to a strong defence relationship, which they stressed, should focus on achieving common objectives.
During the plenary session, DCG participants shared their respective assessments of the bilateral relationship and discussed each country's strategic priorities, and agreed on areas for future defense cooperation. Both delegations concluded that the discussions to reopen the Nato-led Coalition's ground supply lines and the resumption of bilateral consultations on regional security were significant achievements over the six months.
The delegations reaffirmed the DCG remains an invaluable forum to discuss strategic defense policy issues and exchange views on shared security concerns, and committed to continue working together to implement a framework for defense cooperation based on areas of convergence between US and Pakistani interests to promote peace and stability in the region. The DCG is the primary forum for exchanging views and coordinating defence policy with the goal of strengthening cooperation to support each country's security interests. The DCG last met in May last year in Washington DC.