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Pakistan, US to support each other in fight against terror
*Carter says Pakistan’s anti-terror efforts ‘opening opportunities for regional peace’ * Gen Raheel wants re-launch of Afghan peace process

WASHINGTON: Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, who is in the United States on a five-day visit, met US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter at Pentagon to discuss the bilateral defence relations and regional security, the military spokesman said on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the US defence secretary appreciated Pakistan’s contribution and sacrifices in fighting war on terror and acknowledged the effects of successful counter terrorism operations, according to a series of tweets by Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Asim Bajwa.

The US will play its part and will fully support any effort of Pakistan in fighting terrorism and extremism, Carter was quoted as saying.

The US defence secretary was of the view that Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts were ‘opening opportunities for regional peace’. He affirmed that both US and Pakistan will continue to operate in a coordinated manner against this global menace of terrorism and extremism, Bajwa said. During the meeting, General Raheel highlighted the Pakistan’s perspective of regional challenges and reiterated the country’s resolve to eliminate terrorism from its soil for good.

General Raheel also met CIA chief John Brennan and discussed security challenges facing the region and the way forward to confront those.

The COAS visited the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, the meeting was held.

During the meeting, the COAS highlighted the need for stability in the region, ISPR DG Lt-Gen Asim Bajwa said in a series of tweets.

The army chief stressed the need for environment in the region conducive to re-initiating the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process, Bajwa tweeted.

The CIA chief discussed with Gen Raheel the prospects of an enduring peace in the region. He praised Pakistan’s efforts for the Afghan reconciliation process, according to the ISPR chief. Brennan acknowledged the accomplishments of
Zarb-i-Azb and its positive impact on the security calculus, he said.

The COAS is in the United States on a five-day visit, in a trip analysts have said will underscore security issues facing Islamabad and Washington in the region as well as the dynamics relating to civilian-military ties within Pakistan.

The visit comes weeks after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met with US President Barack Obama at the Oval Office to discuss many of the same issues said to be on his army chief’s agenda, including Afghan peace talks and Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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