PESHAWAR, Pakistan: The United States has said that it regards Pakistan as its trustworthy friend, and also appreciated the role played by Pakistan in war against terrorism.
In his address at the opening ceremony of Elite Police Training Centre in Peshawar, the Assistant Secretary of State and head of the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) William R Brownfield said that Pakistan’s sacrifices have no precedence in the history of mankind.
Brownfield said that keeping in view the services of Pakistan, the United States has provided grant of $400 million for capacity building of the police force. The US assistance includes provision of helicopters, vehicles and other spying gadgets.
The United States has also affirmed significance of the Pakistan army’s operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan agency.
The Pakistan’s military has been carrying out military operation Zarb-e-Azb in the country’s volatile northwestern tribal region since June 15 against various outlawed militant groups including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Jundallah, al-Qaeda, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and the Haqqani network.
The military said that more than 1,200 militants including foreigners and important commanders have been killed so far while over 360 injured during the operation Zarb-e-Azb.
The US and Pakistani defense officials at the concluding meeting of their Defence Consultative Group in Washington welcomed the continued positive trajectory of Pak-US relationship and said that bilateral cooperation is essential to promote regional peace and stability.
In their joint statement released at the end of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their mutual commitment to a strong mutual defense relationship.
