US Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen Dunford to visit Pakistan next week

He will discuss US-Pakistan defence cooperation with Pakistan's military leadership

ISLAMABAD: US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Joseph Dunford will visit Pakistan next week.

He will meet the Pakistani military leadership as part of the preparations for US Defence Secretary James Mattis' forthcoming visit to Pakistan in December, diplomatic sources told The Express Tribune.

The leaders from the two sides will discuss US-Pakistan defence cooperation in the wake of recent developments, they added.

On Thursday, US Central Command (Centcom) chief General Joseph Votel, who was on a two-day visit to Islamabad, held wide-ranging talks with the top Pakistani military leadership.

Sources said that Gen Votel's visit was also a prelude to the forthcoming visit of US defence secretary.



Gen Votel, while appreciating Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, conveyed a message from the Trump administration that Pakistan must prevent all militants from operating within and across its borders, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy.

As the Centcom chief emphasised the need for strengthening border security, Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa informed him that despite Pakistan's tremendous efforts, Afghanistan was not doing enough to secure the border.

Gen Votel underscored the vital role Pakistan could play in facilitating the peace process in Afghanistan and bringing stability and security to the region.