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<p>The UK has strong ties with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, which we value
and reinforce through regular defence engagement, exercises and training courses.</p><p>The
Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary visited Islamabad in March 2019 for the annual
Defence Cooperation Forum with Pakistan and regular dialogue continues at senior military
level. The Pakistan National Defence University visited the UK earlier this year.
Bangladesh also held a National Defence College visit.</p><p>Defence relations with
Sri Lanka were significantly strengthened in 2019 by the appointment of a resident
Defence Adviser.</p><p>HMS Dragon visited Karachi in February 2019 as part of Exercise
AMAN, in which Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were also involved. HMS Montrose visited Colombo
in April 2019 as part of her deployment in the Indian Ocean and conducted a short
exercise with the Sri Lankan Navy.</p><p>In addition to bespoke training programmes,
Bangladeshi and Pakistani cadets are attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
in 2018-19, and there are members of the Royal College of Defence Studies from all
three countries.</p>
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