ISLAMABAD: The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) and the South Asia Sustainability and Security Research Institute (SASSRI), Sri Lanka, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a simple ceremony held at ISSI.
The MoU is part of ISSI’s international outreach aimed at developing cooperative institutional mechanisms, particularly with regional partners. It seeks to develop and strengthen mutual institutional cooperation in research, policy dialogue, joint publications and events on issues of mutual interest.
The ceremony was attended by the leadership of ISSI and SASSRI, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Colombo, H.E. Major General Dr Nayyar Naseer, HI (M), and Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Islamabad Mr A. Christy Ruban.
Participants highlighted the history of fraternal relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, covering diplomatic, defence, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
They agreed that for a prosperous and connected South Asia, regional countries needed to come closer and strengthen mutual ties through continued engagement, dialogue and active cooperation.
The participants also stressed the importance of regional cooperation for collective development in South Asia, with particular emphasis on the need for revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
Under the MoU, concrete steps including joint events, policy papers and researchers’ exchange programmes were suggested.
The leadership of the two think tanks expressed the determination to work together for shaping better policy discourses and well-informed public opinion in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
