ISAF chief reaffirms importance of Pak-US ties

The visit comes at a time when Obama administration is concerned over blockade of Nato supply route by PTI, JI.

ISLAMABAD:

The International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) commander in Kabul, Gen Joseph F Dunford, on Monday met with army chief Gen Raheel Sharif and reaffirmed the importance of the Pakistan-US security relationship for stability in the region.

The Isaf chief travelled to Islamabad for talks with Pakistan’s senior military leadership. This was the first visit by the top US military official since Gen Raheel took over as head of the country’s most powerful institution last month.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Gen Dunford arrived on a routine coordination visit. The two generals discussed matters of mutual interest with particular focus on Pakistan-Afghanistan Border coordination mechanism.

A separate statement issued by the US Embassy in Islamabad said Gen Dunford discussed security issues with the army chief and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Rashad Mahmood.

The visit comes at a sensitive time when the Obama administration is increasingly concerned over the blockade of main Nato supply route at Torkham border into Afghanistan by activists of Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami as part of their anti-drone campaign.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2013.