COAS Raheel Sharif visits US Centcom headquarters

E-Paper | June 13, 2026

WASHINGTON: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, during his visit to the United States on Sunday visited the headquarters of the US Central Command (Centcom) office, DawnNews reported Sunday.

During meetings with officials, the army chief discussed the operation conducted against militants by the Pakistan Army and the success achieved so far.

General Raheel Sharif will also meet Chairman Joint Chiefs Staff General Martin Dempsey during his trip.

Officials say Gen Raheel's meetings with US counterparts will provide an opportunity to enhance bilateral military-to-military cooperation.

According to US media reports, Pakistani and Afghan efforts to repair the ties, the effectiveness of Zarb-i-Azb operation and upward trajectory of Pakistan-US relations have helped set an environment of optimism and trust.

DawnNews had earlier reported that the army chief met with the Centcom Commander Gen. Lloyd Austin, however, the military on Monday said no such meeting had taken place,

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T.M. Reddy

Nov 17, 2014 12:46am

I am sure the Army chief told that the ISIS is a big threat to Pakistan and future of Afghanistan etc.

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Shuaib Bhat

Nov 17, 2014 12:47am

I hope sense prevails in US policy circles with regards to drone attacks. As if they're stopped our coubtries can have very very close relations as our interests are alinged deeply in Afghanistan.

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Pramod

Nov 17, 2014 01:27am

Why does a Pakistani Chief of Army go to USA to brief them about the progress of their activities.

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Tayyab Qureshi

Nov 17, 2014 02:43am

Make it clear to the US that this relationship is purely transactional. They have to pay the right price to keep them safe.

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Md Imran

Nov 17, 2014 03:03am

AoA ! The most allied ally of US is / has always been Pakistan !

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Gilam -e-sakar

Nov 17, 2014 03:34am

@Tayyab Qureshi purely business as usual at the cost of humen lives .

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Anil

Nov 17, 2014 03:52am

@Tayyab Qureshi Why remain a mercenary army in the service of US and compromise Pak's independent position. This is the reason why US Drone strikes happen. US is convinced that they can buy any thing from Pak-be it Davis release, drone strikes or even transgressing Pak's sovereignty by conducting raid in Pak's cantonment area to get Osama.

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AYZA

Nov 17, 2014 04:32am

Pakistan and the USA are discussing the strategic depth which these two allies need to be engaged with in order to ward off the real threat coming from one of India's BFF, Russia. At present the there is an icy Cold War taking place between the USA and Russia, and Pakistan has historically been allied more with the US vs Russia, so now let's see if India will keep supporting it's BFF or cleverly try to manipulate and balance its relations with both Russia and the USA. When push comes to shove, India may side with Russia.

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Irfan Baloch

Nov 17, 2014 05:09am

@Anil because we are partners in war against terrorism. Americans killed our mutual enemy if it bothers you too much then I cant help you

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Tariq

Nov 17, 2014 05:43am

Just like the Roman Empire far flung protected little countries come to Rome to pay homage can't meet the emperor as he is not important enough

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MSAlvi

Nov 17, 2014 05:58am

Pakistan should send a diplomat to US to communicate about the common interests, not army chief. It seems PMLn is trying to please the army by doing such things. Drones have done no harm to Pakistan. Now Pakistan Army is doing the same thing. Why won't you call drone attacks help to Pakistan.

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Muhib

Nov 17, 2014 06:58am

Give report to your Director please otherwise we will cancel scholarship.

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Gaurav Arya

Nov 17, 2014 07:07am

This is the first time I am hearing of the army chief of one country giving a progress report to, or discussing internal operational matters with, the army chief of another country. Is zarb-e-azb funded by US?

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Balaji

Nov 17, 2014 07:12am

@Pramod Proving a status update

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Imran

Nov 17, 2014 07:42am

USA is playing the Flute. Pakistan Leadership is dancing to the Tune.

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Azam

Nov 17, 2014 07:42am

What is the purpose of COAS going to USA? What kind of democracy do we have in PAK?

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Nov 17, 2014 08:10am

@Pramod - The actual purpose of the visit will not be made public. You can speculate all you want, it does not matter and has no value.

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Ben

Nov 17, 2014 08:16am

@Pramod Only a subordinate updates his superiors. I don't see General Dempsey paying a visit to the GHQ to update General Sharif on the US withdrawal and operations in Afghanistan. If he does that then we will understand that there is a partnership of some sorts.

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Alam

Nov 17, 2014 08:30am

Hold on Good morning

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Ben

Nov 17, 2014 08:30am

@Anil Anil, you have hit the nail on the head.

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Zahid

Nov 17, 2014 08:44am

Still waiting for PTI to report the cost of this trip! After all they have close ties to the third umpire.

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Ahmer

Nov 17, 2014 09:08am

Gen Raheel must brief his counterparts on India hurting the war on terror and Zarb-e-Azb.

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Iqbal Bhai

Nov 17, 2014 10:22am

@Pramod : because if he does not, he gets blamed for proxy wars and double game. US is never happy with Pakistan no matter how much sacrifice we give. The proxy war in Afghanistan during Russian occupation was legitimate for United States. This war gave Pakistan the heroine, the klashnikov, and the TTP. Yet US is never happy with Pakistan.

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Einstein Babar

Nov 17, 2014 10:24am

@Pramod Because militancy which started from Afghanistan and northern Pakistan is an equal threat for USA and Pakistan. I request that please don't comment if you don't know anything

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Arrow Singh

Nov 17, 2014 11:26am

Is Pakistan colony of USA or an Independent nation?

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masroof

Nov 17, 2014 11:33am

What is common between Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Japan, Germany, South Korea and Pakistan.? Anybody, make a guess.

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someguyinthewest

Nov 17, 2014 11:50am

Uh why are people being so concerned about the COAS in the US? Their our allies, generals of allied armies come together. Look at NATO.

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Abhai

Nov 17, 2014 11:52am

@Irfan Baloch - Very true, That is why Bush threatened Musharraf to Bomb Pak back to stone age.

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junaid

Nov 17, 2014 12:04pm

@Pramod Because we are being paid by them for doing this operation, bitter but true.

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masroof

Nov 17, 2014 12:05pm

@masroof include Egypt and Jordan

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Zak

Nov 17, 2014 12:27pm

@Pramod just to let them know which army is the toughest and professional in the region. US has commended pakistans success and has sent observers to learn from it.

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Zak

Nov 17, 2014 12:29pm

COAS, Raheel Sharif, brother of the Nishan e Hyderabad, Shabbir sharif.

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KRana

Nov 17, 2014 12:35pm

This is the last chance for Pakistan to make happy uncle sam, rest USA dont want disurbnace in Inida from Pakistan side as it will hurt their investment.

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KRana

Nov 17, 2014 12:36pm

@AH It is already analyzed in BBC news with summary that last chance for Pakistan to make us happy

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Sheikhchilli

Nov 17, 2014 12:46pm

@Zak JOKE OF CENTURY.. naughty boy..

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Rabbani

Nov 19, 2014 07:41am

@KRana What last chance. Geostrategic imperatives always trump all other things. No lashhhht wasssshttt chance. Pakistan will keep getting its chances as long as US is in Afghanistan.

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Tariq K Sami

Nov 19, 2014 08:06am

@Zak : also nephew of Major Raja Aziz Bhatti (Shaheed), Nishan e Haidar.

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Tariq K Sami

Nov 19, 2014 08:08am

No one can match Ayub Khan. Watch him on you tube with JFK>

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I am ZIA

Nov 19, 2014 10:45am

It looks COAS is made ready for the ARMAGEDDON in PAKISTAN after 30th November. Allah knows better.

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