International Shia News Agency

Pakistan Army chief in US, will visit US CENTCOM today

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association)- Army chief General Raheel Sharif arrived in the United Sates on Sunday for a seven-day visit, according to Radio Pakistan.

General Raheel, who is scheduled to meet representatives from the Department of Defense, US Administration and Congress, will visit the US Central Command (CENTCOM) Headquarters in Tampa, Florida, today.

According to an official source, the army chief will hold a meeting with CENTCOM Chief General Lloyd Austin.

Officials said the army chief’as meetings with his american counterparts will provide an opportunity to enhance bilateral military-to-military cooperation.

The visit, Gen Raheel’s first to the country since taking over as army chief, comes at a time when there is a greater convergence on views between Islamabad and Washington.

According to a report by The Washington Post, Gen Raheel is likely to be greeted with much more optimism and trust and ‘far less skepticism’ than his predecessor, Gen (retd) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

It quoted US officials as saying that Pakistan Army’s operation against militants in North Waziristan has “boosted their confidence in Islamabad’s commitment to combating terrorist groups operating within its borders.”

Source: Tribune

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