July 23, 2003	Wednesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 22, 1424

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RAWALPINDI, July 22: US Central Command chief General John P. Abizaid arrived here on Tuesday evening on a three-day official visit to Pakistan.

Gen Abizaid, who is heading a nine-member delegation, was warmly received by Lt-Gen Shahid Aziz, Chief of General Staff, at PAF Base Chaklala.

“The Centcom chief has come here for introductory meetings with the president and senior officials of the government of Pakistan,” a well-placed diplomatic source told Dawn on Tuesday.

Pakistani officials termed it a “very important visit” during which serious bilateral and regional issues pertaining to Afghanistan and Iraq would be taken up.

After his nomination as the Centcom chief some time back, Gen Abizaid had said Pakistan would be one of the first places he would visit once his appointment was confirmed.

His visit acquires special significance as it comes at a time when there has been tension on Pakistan-Afghan border and the US has requested Pakistan to send its troops to Iraq.

Last month, Gen Abizaid acknowledged in superlatives before the US senate committee the “enormous cooperation” extended by Pakistani military and its security services in the ongoing campaign against Al Qaeda.

Gen Abizaid, 52, replaced Gen Tommy Franks early this month to head the Tampa-based US military Central Command that directs forces in a vast region encompassing 25 countries in the Middle East and South-West Asia.