RI, Pakistan seal deal to combat terrorism

Rendi A. Witular The Jakarta Post/Islamabad

Visiting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf witnessed the signing on Thursday of accords on terrorism and trade during a two-day visit.

Touching down at Chaklala Air Force Base in Islamabad on Thursday, Susilo attended the signing ceremony for the accords, in which Indonesia and Pakistan agreed to establish a joint working group to fight terrorism.

"Indonesia and Pakistan are facing a common enemy -- terrorism. Both countries have fallen victim to terrorists' cruelty. We hope this cooperation will help us work together in rooting out terrorist networks," Susilo said in a press conference.

The world's largest Muslim nation and Pakistan have faced increasing attacks by international terrorist networks over the past five years. A number of Indonesian Muslim extremists have studied at universities in Pakistan.

In the past, some of the students used Pakistan as a gateway to Afghanistan, where they attended terror training camps.

There are currently more than 500 Indonesians studying in Pakistan.

During a meeting with Indonesians living in Pakistan, Susilo appealed for help in stamping out terrorism, and urged them to avoid the kind of extremism that leads to anarchy and violence.

"I call on the students, who are expected to lead Indonesia in the future, to avoid Islamic teachings that are not in the spirit of Islam as a peaceful religion. If you return to Indonesia, please help your fellow countrymen by combating terror," he said.

Susilo and Musharraf also witnessed the signing of a joint cooperation statement by the two countries' foreign ministers, as well as the signing of a framework agreement on a comprehensive economic partnership by the trade ministers of the two nations.

Susilo's visit to Pakistan follows a visit by president Abdurrahman Wahid in 2001 and president Megawati Soekarnoputri in 2003. Both former presidents inked several economic deals during their visits.

Despite past economic agreements, trade between the countries remain limited, with Indonesian exports to Pakistan between July 2004 and June 2005 totaling just US$574 million. That is a 60.7 percent increase from the same period between 2003 and 2004, with the majority of exports being vegetables fat and oil, fruits and vegetables, animal fat and oil, and iron ore and steel.

Pakistan's exports to Indonesia between July 2004 and June 2005 were valued at only $70.4 million, a 58.2 percent increase from the same period between 2003 and 2004. Most of the exports were unprocessed cotton and cotton yard.

Indonesian Ambassador to Pakistan Anwar Santoso said there were a lot of opportunities for Indonesian companies to boost their exports to the country, especially in the consumer goods, pulp and paper, tire and agricultural sectors.

Susilo is scheduled to visit quake-hit areas in Pakistani- administered Kashmir on Friday. The Oct. 8 earthquake claimed the lives of 73,000 people in Pakistan and 1,300 in Indian-controlled Kashmir.