RAWALPINDI: General Lloyd J. Austin Commander United States Central Command (Centcom) on Wednesday called on Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, according to a tweet by Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Asim Bajwa.

During the meeting matters of mutual interest and regional security were discussed.

US Centcom Commander Gen. Lloyd Austin acknowledged Pakistan Army's efforts and sacrifices rendered during the war against terrorism to bring peace in Pakistan and the region.

Gen Austin also paid homage to army martyrs and laid a floral wreath at martyrs’ monument.

The US Centcom chief also called on Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee General Rashad Mahmood during which both military leaders discussed matters related to mutual interest.

General Lloyd Austin acknowledged the role played by the armed forces of Pakistan in fighting the menace of terrorism.

Earlier in January this year, General Lloyd J. Austin III had held a meeting with COAS Gen Raheel Sharif at GHQ during which matters of mutual interest, including bilateral defence cooperation and the overall regional security situation with special emphasis on Afghanistan, came under discussion.

Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, during his visit to the United States in November last year, had called on US Centcom chief General Lloyd J. Austin in Tampa, Florida during which the two had discussed regional security and stability.

Gen Lloyd Austin had also met Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, in May 2014, to discuss on the post-2014 situation, particularly in the context of the Afghan-US Bilateral Security Agreement and bilateral military-to-military cooperation.