Army chief relays concerns about Indian ceasefire violations to US: report
According to a BBC Urdu report which quotes an anonymous source, the COAS told US officials that India’s aggressive position on the border is negatively affecting Pakistan Army’s efforts, which is fighting militants in North Waziristan.
Merit medal
COAS Raheel Sharif, who is in US on his maiden visit, was conferred with US Legion of Merit Medal for his brave leadership, ISPR Director General Major General Asim Bajwa tweeted on Wednesday.
Accompanied by US army chief, General Raheel also witnessed a guard of honour ceremony and gun salute presented by US soldiers.
18Nov:Impressive Honor Guard ceremony.Gen #Raheel reviewed parade,gun salute presented by USArmy-US Chief present pic.twitter.com/oaDEtWaEES
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 19, 2014
Committing to an enduring partnership
The COAS further met Chairperson Joint Chief Staff General Martin Dempsey, Deputy Secretary of Defence Robert Work and Commander US Marines General Joseph Dunford.
The leaders discussed regional security issues and their commitment to an enduring partnership, the Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement.
"They also emphasized the importance of sustained and substantive dialogue as we continue to develop the bilateral military-to-military relationship," he added.
This was Sharif's first official visit to the United States since becoming the Chief of Army staff in November 2013, Kirby said.
Regional security, Afghanistan and military to military relationship were also discussed during the meeting.
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1731998460-0/Express-Tribune-(1)1731998460-0-270x192.webp "lahore second karachi ranks fourth in world s most polluted cities list")
All is good. When Pakistan establishment visits America. Americans will visit India. Even Obama will visit India 2nd time in his presidentship, while he has not visited Pakistan at-least once. They will sign agreements and increase co-operation.
@xenia: Rest assure Kashmir was a beautiful place where tourism flourish and locals were making good money till early 90's , then all those cockroaches you trained and were left redundant, after Russian withdrawal from Afghanistan were redeployed towards Kashmir, hence the current scenario ! I use to visit Kashmir on vacations in 70's and have some beautiful memories of the hospitality of the locals and enjoyed staying houseboats on Dal lake. Sadly that is not the case today, due to both parties playing cat and mouse games. At present you should be more concerned about the internal crises taking place in your own country, sadly these too are self created by yourselves, deal with that first than worry about Kashmir.
@Whiskey Khan: India should realize that an unstable Pakistan is not in her best Interest.
Thank you, the Indians are well aware of the above, hence the interest to ensure, that it does not catch fire, however they are multiple internal issues that can light fire in Pakistan today, it does not need outside help to do that.
Meetings between our military and civilian leadership are very important for the sake of peace in the region. This also shows the importance of keeping the bilateral dialogue going between the two countries. There is no denying that the region is in conflict for decades and the only way out of it is for all parties work together to diminish the threats of extremism, terrorism and transnational crimes. We also know that unless we keep meeting at the highest level and resolve issues pertaining to the region, peace will not be possible and unless we have peace, prosperity will be hard to come by for a common person in the region.
Earlier Pentagon Spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby provided the following readout: "Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey met with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Raheel Sharif today at the Pentagon. The leaders discussed regional security issues and their commitment to an enduring partnership. They also emphasized the importance of sustained and substantive dialogue as we continue to develop the bilateral military-to-military relationship.”
Abdul Quddus DET - U.S. Central Command www.facebook.com/centcomurdu
@Hedgefunder: Why it's taking more than three decades for india to clear self created mess in Kashmir, Arunachal Par desk, Mizoram, Nagaland and many more
this guy is there to provide the progress card and get some funds but he tries his hand at befitting reply from pakistan, written complaints to oral diatribe ...pakistanis excelling at every level and in the meanwhile sartaj aziz says good taliban is too good to fight...
Sometimes US seems to extrememly confused by taking dubious steps. On one hand, Pentagon had released report criticizing Pak Army for their involvements in proxy war. Now, we see US Generals giving guard of honor and saltues on Army Chief. I am unable to follow this episode and doubt intentions. However, a fact worth mentioning here is that US alone has provided Pakistan with highest amount of aid, money, loans and grants to Pakistan since 1947 than any other country on the planet (Even more than Saudi Arabia and China & UN). In return Pakistan has also fulfilled each and every wish of United States (some reluctantly and some with motivation). But US at times acts like our worse enemy and nightmare at times. I guess, this is how Older brother and or Father takes good care of his younger ones.
The whole charade of these Generals is in the humble service of the bloodsucking gun mafia! Emotionless they all enjoy playing chess with pawns of humans!
To be fair Gen Sharrif Has done the best of all the COAS before him against Tabilan. India if really instreated in regionl security should coorporate and help in stablizing the region. In today circustances eye for an eye equation will not help India or Pakistan. India should realize that an unstable Pakistan is not in her best Intrest.
@Anon: A Pakistani COAS is supposed to be serving Pakistani interests despite of taking international awards. Sorry for the other part ...
@Zubair Khan: How do you know that?.
Did he also talk about the green card for himself and family post retirement ?
@Asad: Agree and that was the biggest mistake of India and for the subcontinent. Mountbatten was looking for British Interests and thus responsible for creating mess of partition. I feel that British should have avoided leaving in hurry.
@Asad: I'm not indian... just a pakistani wondering why the US is always involved in awarding or criticising our COAS? It really should be none of their business... the Pakistani COAS is supposed to be serving Pakistani interests, not receiving awards from other countries for services rendered.
@Anon: No dear it was India who accepted Mountbaten as Governor General.
21 salutes to this genttleman.
General Raheel; some snippets from an Op-Ed by Zahid Hussain in today's Dawn newspaper -
...Sitting in the midst of the destruction is a sprawling mosque, which was more than a place of worship. A labyrinth of rooms in the basement served as the joint headquarters of the various terrorist groups operating from the area...
...The troops are facing some resistance from the fighters belonging to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group. Having been pampered for long by our security establishment, the most enigmatic of all the militant commanders has proven to be treacherous and the deadliest of enemies...
...The role of the Haqqani Network in turning North Waziristan into a centre of international militancy was no less. Having been protected for long by the security agencies the network has effectively been the main patron of almost all militant groups including the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating from the agency. The footprints of the Haqqanis are visible all over Miramshah and Danda Derpakhel...
...One of the largest groups operating from the agency consisted of the militants belonging to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement which has been blamed for carrying out terrorist attacks in China’s Xinjiang province...Months before the operation 15 to 20 Chinese girls had arrived there to marry their compatriots. For sure, they felt at home in these jihadi surroundings...
General Raheel, do tell what has India got to do with all of the above ?
Indian Ceasefire Violations ?? Well it takes two hands to clap and tango too ! Why did it take you a decade to tackle the self created mess in NW ?
@Waseem: If Chuck Hagel would have received him, you would have complained that Obama didn't give a thing to Raheel's visit. We all know US needs Pakistan for least few more years.
This is so confusing, One extreme criticizes US and its policies, The other - Cheers Lolz....
Notice the absence of Chuck Hagel (current Secretary Defense), the actual leader for US dense policy! Unlike Pakistan, the real power in US lies with the civilian administration and even the relevant ministry i.e. the defense completely ignored him speaks volumes on the importance that they accord us in post-US-withdrawal-era from Afghanistan!!!
good morning all, another day to put forth our arguments as we see today's news. My view on this news item is, gen sharif needs to be applauded on the path he is leading to eliminate violence in all forms whether emanating from within or outside the national boundaries. The first feel good part of visit is over with all patting each other on back. Now read the news from state department of usa who are going to confront the general on Sartaj Aziz statement. Obviously entire nation has to come on same page to confront terrorism and the politicians and army cannot do it alone. All citizens have to agree that the current policies that consider terrorists as assets are flawed and will devour us all. Therefore entire nation of pakistan has to Do More in fight against terrorism.
This shows the professionalism and dedication by Army and commitment to international community, unlike our civilian government which works only for corruption and nepotism thus no one trust the politicians including the Pakistani people.
did pledge allegiance to the flag as well?
hope for the best
Looks the actual ruler of Pakistan as guard of honour and gun salutes reserved for head of states.
Great! Now lets wait and see what US wants in return...