US Secretary of State John Kerry has praised Pakistan Army’s role in fighting terrorism and termed it a ‘truly binding force,’ during a meeting with army chief General Raheel Sharif in Washington on Sunday.
According to Maj-Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) who was also traveling with the army chief – Gen Raheel and Kerry discussed regional security issues during the meeting.
The army chief gave Pakistan’s perspective on the regional security situation against the backdrop of the US plan to withdraw most of its troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year, Maj Gen Bajwa said in tweets on micro-blogging site Twitter.
Secretary Kerry acknowledged Pakistan’s role in fighting terrorism and its sacrifices. The US foreign policy chief also welcomed efforts to improve relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Maj Gen Bajwa tweeted.
Secretary Kerry said enhanced cooperation between the two neighbours would help restore regional stability. He also assured his full support in this regard.
The US foreign policy chief also used his tweeter account to say that he had a ‘productive’ meeting with the visiting Pakistani army chief, although there was no formal statement from the State Department.
This was Gen Raheel’s first trip to the US since he became the army chief in November last year. Gen Raheel stayed in the US for nearly two weeks – one of the longest by any top Pakistani general.
During his trip, Gen Raheel met National Security Adviser Susan Rice, his American counterpart Raymond T Odierno and other military commanders, including the US Centcom chief.
The army chief, during his interactions with the American officials, has made it clear that Pakistan is taking action against militants without any discrimination.
He undertook the US visit at a time when the Pakistan military is carrying out a full-scale offensive against militants in North Waziristan and Khyber agencies.
The operation Zarb-e-Azb began in June this year and so far the military claims to have killed over 1,100 militants, including members of the deadliest Afghan insurgents, the Haqqani Network.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2014.
COMMENTS (4)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1714500460-0/Yehia-Hamuda-baby-separated-from-parents-Gaza-(1)1714500460-0-270x192.webp)
1714370039-0/ojwilson-(1)1714370039-0-270x192.webp)
-(1)1714378140-0/AliAminMaryam-(4)-(1)1714378140-0-270x192.webp)
Politicians have made it so, and sadly Pakistan Army is truly a binding force in this so called Democratic Republic where the politicians are busy gaining their own mileage on their own agendas.
I dont know the intention behind his statement but thats our reality. No other organizationhas its root in all the provinces but Army. Citizens across Pakistan work under and follow one organized command.
This is no compliment......Yes Pakistan Army is a truly deterrent force against enemies of Pakistan.
but terming it a truly binding force is poisonous ....it is a covert way of challenging our existence
Mr Kerry is perhaps tired and after Chuck Hagel less than honorable exit perhaps a bit apprehensive these days !!!!
We love our army and regard its services but it would disastrous to believe it our binding force. Army should also keep its distance from these false and dangerous beliefs. Binding force of a nation is its citizenship. A citizenship in which every citizen has equal rights, duties, honour and dignity. If Mr. Kerry had used similar term for US army, he would have been fired till now.