US Marine Corps General James Mattis.—AFP photo

WASHINGTON: High-level US-Pakistan visits were unfolding Wednesday for the first time since Washington announced it was cutting more than one-third of its military aid to its terrorism-fighting partner.

Marine Gen. James Mattis, the head of US Central Command, met with Pakistan's army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, and the joint chiefs chairman, Gen. Khalid Shameem Wynne, the US Embassy in Islamabad said.

The visit by Mattis was to ''share perspectives on the current relationship between the two militaries and to review the way ahead,'' according to an embassy statement. It said the stop was part of Mattis' routine of consulting with Pakistani officials.

Officials said the trip was planned for some time and was his fifth since becoming US commander for the region 11 months ago.

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