Chairman US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen held security talks with President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday as he toured the region after the sacking of the top US commander, General Stanley McChrystal in Afghanistan.
The two were joined by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and US Ambassador Anne Patterson.
Pak-US bilateral relations, fight against militancy and regional security situation were discussed during the meeting.
Admiral Mullen said earlier that he was visiting Afghanistan and Pakistan to reassure leaders that Washington’s strategy would be unaffected by the shock departure of the head of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal.
Ahead of his visit, the chief of staff of the US air force, General Norton Schwartz, also arrived in Pakistan and visited the country’s air force headquarters, a separate statement by the US embassy said.
On his arrival, a smartly turned out contingent of the Pakistan Air Force presented the guard of honour. After reviewing the guard of honour, he was introduced to the Principal Staff Officers of the Pakistan Air Force.
Schwartz placed a wreath at a monument to remember perished PAF pilots “to honour the sacrifices made by Pakistani security forces and citizens in their fight against violent extremists,” the embassy added. Schwartz called on Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, in his office. Both remained together for some time and discussed matters of professional interest. (AFP with additional reporting from Naveed Akbar)
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2010.
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