General Joseph L Votel, Commander United States Central Command (US CENTCOM), called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa at General Headquarters on Monday.
According to ISPR press release, COAS and Commander US CENTCOM discuss of the matters of mutual professional interests with special focus on security situation in Afghanistan were discussed in the meeting.
The COAS highlighted the importance of Pakistan’s accords to its relations with US, particularly cooperation in counter-terrorism and regional stability.
General Bajwa said that Pakistan supports and looks forward to an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process.
With reference to recent terrorist incidents in Afghanistan and follow up rhetoric from certain factions implicating Pakistan, the COAS said that blame game is detrimental to enduring peace and stability.
He highlighted that Pakistan has undertaken operations against terrorists of all hue and colour and there are no safe havens inside Pakistan to be used against Afghanistan.
He expressed his commitment to work in close coordination with Afghanistan and US-led Resolute Support Mission (RSM) for improved security environment in Pak-Afghan border region.
In this regard, he emphasized requirement of Pak-Afghan border security and intelligence sharing mechanism.
The visiting dignitary acknowledged and appreciated Paksitan Army’s success in fight against terrorism and continued efforts for bringing peace and stability in the region.
General Joseph emphasized the need for continued and meaningful engagement between all stakeholders involved in peace and stability of Afghanistan.
He supported the views of the COAS on inclusive reconciliation in Afghanistan through an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led process.
