Pakistan army chief arrives in US, will hold talks with special focus on Afghan peace process

Washington: Pakistan’s powerful army chief General Raheel Sharif has arrived in the US for a five-day visit during which he will hold talks with top defence officials on key issues with special focus on the Afghanistan peace process and Indo-Pak ties. [caption id=“attachment_2508292” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Pakistan army chief Raheel Sharif. Reuters[/caption] General Raheel arrives in the US at a critical time when the entire focus of the Obama Administration is on tackling the dreaded Islamic State terror group in the aftermath of the horrific Paris terror attacks that claimed over 120 lives. Significantly, Raheel is visiting the US on his own as there was no official invitation either from his American counterpart or the Pentagon. “The visit is very significant as it is taking place at a time when important changes are taking place in our region and situation is changing,” Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations Director Lt General Asim Bajwa told Pakistani journalists here hours ahead of Raheel’s arrival on Sunday. Bajwa said the Pakistan army chief’s talks with top American defence officials was expected to include bilateral military-to-military relations and issues of regional security and stability. Raheel, during his visit, would meet Vice President Joe Biden. Other meetings that he would have during his stay in Washington include with Secretary of State John Kerry, Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Joseph Dunford, Army Chief of Staff Gen Mark Milley and Director CIA John Brennan besides influential US lawmakers. While Afghanistan is expected to be one of the major issues of discussion along with the supply of latest arms and military hardware to Pakistan, India too is expected to figure in the talks, he said. Bajwa said that there have been issues on the eastern border with India and until these issues were settled, it will remain a major issue in the context of regional peace and security. Responding to a question, Bajwa said before the launch of Zarb-e-Azb operation in North Waziristan, Afghan officials had been informed that terrorists will try to flee into Afghanistan and for the need to take appropriate steps to deal with them. “There has been substantial benefits of Zarb-e-Azb operation across the border in Afghanistan and discussion will be held here as to how to maximise these benefits,” he said, adding that the Afghan government also had a responsibility in this regard. Pakistan has always said that it would support an Afghan-led and an Afghan-owned reconciliation process with the Taliban, Bajwa said. “Pakistan has supported such efforts with utmost sincerity and it will continue to fully support” the reconciliation process, he said. This was an issue which was very important in the context of regional peace and stability, Bajwa said. Raheel will also pay a three-day visit to Brazil on the second-leg of his trip and will also spend a day with Pakistani soldiers who are part of the UN force in Ivory Coast, Bajwa said. PTI