ISLAMABAD, July 23: Chief of the US military’s Central Command (Centcom) General John Abizaid on Wednesday called on President General Pervez Musharraf and thanked him for the “excellent cooperation” extended by Pakistan to counter international terrorism.
“He (General Abizaid) expressed deep appreciation of the excellent cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries and the role of the Pakistan armed forces in combating the scourge of international terrorism,” said an official statement.
During their meeting, the president and Gen Abizaid also exchanged views on the prevailing international and regional geo- strategic situation, said the statement without giving any specifics.
Welcoming the new Centcom chief President Musharraf hoped that General Abizaid’s visit would further fortify the military ties between the two countries.
US ambassador Nancy Powell, Vice-Chief of the Army Staff Gen Mohammad Yusaf Khan and senior Pakistani and American officials were present during the meeting.
At a Senate hearing last month Gen Abizaid said: “The help that the Pakistanis have given us in operations in and around Afghanistan has been absolutely essential to the success of operations there. I certainly will do everything that I can to build upon Gen Franks’ very excellent relationship with the Pakistan president and with the Pakistani military.”
Gen Abizaid is Lebanese-American, speaks fluent Arabic and has a master’s degree from Harvard University in Middle Eastern Studies.
AFP adds: Officials said the current situation in Iraq was discussed during the talks, especially in the context of a request by Britain and the US for two brigades of Pakistani troops to join peacekeeping work in Iraq.
Current strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan were also discussed during talks between Gen Musharraf and Gen Abizaid, officials said.
