News
Friday, August 03, 2012
Pakistan, US see ‘progress’ in ties* Kayani says strategic understanding between NATO and Pakistani military enhanced
* General Allen says ‘significant progress’ was being made in improving cooperation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States on Thursday acknowledged progress in ties between the two countries, in the wake of a recent MoU signed regarding transportation of NATO supplies to Afghanistan through Pakistan, and subsequently the US releasing $1.1 billion to the latter.
This was discussed during a meeting between Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani and ISAF commander Gen John Allen at the GHQ on Thursday. Kayani said the meeting helped improve strategic and operational understanding between Pakistan’s military and NATO forces. He said the Pak-US relationship should be based on mutual trust, respect and transparency.
General Allen said, "I look forward to these visits and am pleased with the upward spiral in our relationship they represent. We are making significant progress toward building a partnership that is enduring, strategic, carefully defined, and that enhances the security and prosperity of the region.”
According to ISPR, this meeting was another in a series of opportunities for the commanders to continue building upon the growing operational cooperation between the Afghanistan National Security Force, the Pakistan military and ISAF.
A joint statement released later, however, made no mention of the specific problems and difficulties that have increasingly characterised relations between Afghan, Pakistani and NATO troops.
All three parties have many shared interests, including their respective commitments to expanding opportunities for coordinated action against terrorists on respective sides of the border who threaten Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the region, and supporting Afghanistan’s security, stability, and efforts towards reconciliation.
ISI chief Lieutenant General Zaheerul Islam is also currently in the United States, the first visit by a head of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency to Washington in a year. staff report/agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk