“General Khalid Shameem Wynne contacted his counterpart in the US, Admiral Mike Mullen, and informed him about the cancellation of his visit to the US that was scheduled from May 22 to 27,” the official said. — File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's senior military officer, General Khalid Shameem Wynne, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Friday cancelled a scheduled visit to the United States, a military official said.

Alluding to the fallout from a unilateral US commando raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan on May 2, the senior official told AFP the visit had been cancelled “in view of the prevailing environment”.

“General Khalid Shameem Wynne contacted his counterpart in the US, Admiral Mike Mullen, and informed him about the cancellation of his visit to the US that was scheduled from May 22 to 27,” the official said.

Wynne is the ceremonial head of Pakistan's powerful military establishment that is effectively run by army chief of staff General Ashfaq Kayani.

The Pakistani official told AFP that the visit to the United States had been at the invitation of Mullen and was scheduled a couple of months ago.

Wynne informed Mullen by telephone that he would not be coming, the official added, but declined to give any further details.

Pakistan's civilian government said Thursday it would review counter-terrorism cooperation with the United States.

Opinion

Editorial

Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...
Punishing evaders
02 May, 2024

Punishing evaders

THE FBR’s decision to block mobile phone connections of more than half a million individuals who did not file...
Engaging Riyadh
Updated 02 May, 2024

Engaging Riyadh

It must be stressed that to pull in maximum foreign investment, a climate of domestic political stability is crucial.
Freedom to question
02 May, 2024

Freedom to question

WITH frequently suspended freedoms, increasing violence and few to speak out for the oppressed, it is unlikely that...