Pakistan PM says bin Laden's killing 'great victory'

Islamabad, May 4: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday, May 3 termed the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden as a "great victory" as he talked defence cooperation with France to bolster his country's efforts to counter the threat of terrorism.

Gilani, who arrived in Paris on Tuesday, met French Defence Minister Gerard Longuet and said modern defence equipment can help his country in the ongoing military operation against extremists and terrorists.

He said the killing of bin Laden in a special US operation was a "great victory" and hoped that it would be a "great setback" to the international terror network, APP reported.

He said Pakistan's counter-terrorism measures had broken the back of the terrorists and they were now on the run and that Pakistan was endeavouring to eliminate the menace of terrorism and extremism, it said.

France has been a supplier of military hardware to Pakistan and Pakistan Air Force has the largest worldwide fleet of Mirages III and V.

The two sides are in talks for provision of French military hardware including helicopters and ammunition to Pakistan.

According to APP, the French Defence Minister "lauded" the contributions by Pakistan in its measures to counter extremism and terrorism.

Gilani sought technical expertise and its transfer for capacity building of Pakistani armed forces.

PTI