COAS, CENTCOM chief discuss regional security

Top US military commander held talks with Army chief General Asim Munir at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on regional security situation and defence cooperation, said an official handout issued on Monday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), regional security situation and defence cooperation were discussed during a meeting between US Central Command (Centcom) General Michael Erik Kurilla and the army chief.

“Both leaders were said to have reiterated the desire to further enhance bilateral relations in all fields,” it added.

The ISPR also said that the “visiting dignitary acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan Army’s successes in fight against terrorism and Pakistan’s continued efforts for bringing peace and stability to the region”.

This was the second visit of General Kurilla in the last seven months. He last visited in December, weeks after the change of military command in Pakistan.

In an interview with The Express Tribune at that time Kurilla had said that he had previously established a relationship with the General Asim Munir.

The two generals established a relationship when General Kurilla was the Centcom chief of staff, while General Munir was heading Pakistan’s premier spy agency— the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

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The Centcom chief had said that General Munir had a “clear vision” for his forces and the security of Pakistan “Just two weeks into command of the Pakistani Army, General Munir has a clear vision for his forces and the security of Pakistan,” General Kurilla had said in the interview in December.

“The US and Pakistan have a shared interest in combatting threats to regional security. The US-Pakistan relationship must stand on its own, through its own bilateral merits and its potential to improve stability across the region,” according to the Centcom chief.

The US-led foreign forces may have withdrawn from Afghanistan but Washington remains closely focused on the situation in the neighbouring country. The US does not want Afghanistan to turn into safe havens of terrorists, including Daesh and Al-Qaeda posing direct threat to its interests.

It is because of this reason that the Pentagon and the GHQ maintain close contacts on Afghanistan and other regional issues. The US has backed Pakistan on its concerns regarding the terrorist sanctuaries of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

There has been a surge in terrorist attacks in Pakistan in recent months. Pakistan has blamed the Afghan Taliban for not tackling the TTP.