Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Ehsanul Haq has flown to Malaysia to attend the 9th Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference being hosted by the Malaysian Ministry of Defence at Kuala Lumpur, says an official statement. The conference focuses on Meeting Security Challenges with Capabilities and Cooperation and a variety of issues such as trans-national threats like terrorism and drug-trafficking, as well as peacekeeping operations, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. The conference is an annual forum for Chiefs of Defence Staffs of Asia Pacific to discuss on current security issues of common interest. It provides the military leaders with an opportunity to meet and discuss security issues of common interest in the region, and to exchange views and develop better understanding, friendship and rapport. The meetings focus on Asia-Pacific security challenges, including a discussion on the economic and political challenges to Asia-Pacific security and stability as well as the future requirements for interoperability in the region. Established in 1998, it was initiated and hosted by the US Pacific Commander-in-Chief Command (USCINCPAC) by Admiral Joseph W. Prueher, the then Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command at Honolulu, Hawaii. The conference location is held alternately between USPACOM and members of Asia Pacific country. Last year the Conference was held at Hawaii. Top military leaders from various countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Australia, Brunei, Canada, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga and United States and participating in the three-day event.
