ISLAMABAD: Commander US Central Command Gen Lloyd Austin met Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif on Thursday for discussions on Afghanistan and bilateral military-to-military cooperation.
The Inter-Services Public Relations said the two discussed matters of mutual interest with special emphasis on regional security.
Gen Austin’s visit to Islamabad comes in the backdrop of reports that Taliban in Afghanistan had signalled their willingness for a deal with the US on the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who has been in Taliban’s captivity for almost five years.
Sgt. Bergdahl is believed to be held by the Haqqani network on the Afghan side of the Pak-Afghan border.
Centcom considers the Haqqani network as one area where US and Pakistani interests diverge. The terror outfit is alleged to be enjoying sanctuaries in Pakistan’s tribal areas.
No details about the Sharif-Austin meeting were given, but a source privy to the agenda said that the two were to discuss on the post-2014 situation, particularly in the context of the Afghan-US Bilateral Security Agreement, the size of the residual force in Afghanistan and the retrograde movement of equipment.
The retrograde operations are said to be continuing smoothly via Pakistani ground routes and US projection is that the movement of equipment would continue into 2015.
Furthermore, it is said the US is looking at various options for having less than 10,000 troops.
Gen Sharif and Gen Austin also reviewed security assistance, training and support for Pakistan and reimbursements under the Coalition Support Fund.
Discussion between Pakistan and US over security assistance have centered around enhancing the capacity of Pakistani troops specifically in the areas of counter-improvised explosive device (IED) capability, battlefield communications, night vision and border security.
