RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Chief General Lloyd Austin called on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif at the army’s general headquarters in Rawalpindi on Monday.
In a press release, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that matters pertaining to bilateral ties, regional issues and security situation came under discussion during the meeting.
The ISPR said that during the meeting, both the leaders also agreed to boost defence cooperation between the two courtiers.
The CENTCOM Chief lauded the sacrifices rendered by the Pakistan army in the war against terror and operational gains in Zarb-e-Azb which has resulted in an effective degradation of terrorist networks.
Earlier on his arrival at the GHQ, General Lloyd Austin laid floral wreath on ‘Yadgar-e-Shuhada’ and lauded sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces in war on terror.
The CENTCOM Chief has arrived in Pakistan on a two-day official visit and will also meet with the US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday.
The defence sources said that General Lloyd James Austin III is visiting Pakistan to assess the latest security situation in the region in the wake of the December 16 militant attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, and to strengthen coordination between Pakistan and NATO forces in the post US drawdown situation in Afghanistan.
