US envoy discusses regional security with army chief

Published November 9, 2017
David Hale met General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters (GHQ). —ISPR
David Hale met General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters (GHQ). —ISPR

United States Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale on Thursday called on Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters (GHQ) to discuss bilateral and regional security issues, military's media wing reported.

The meeting comes days after US Ambassador David Hale met Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and reiterated that the US looks to Pakistan for decisive action against "all terrorist groups operating from its soil."

“We seek a sustained and irreversible effort to achieve an aspiration and commitment made public by Pakistani officials: an end to the use of Pakistan’s soil for attacks on its neighbours,” he had said.

Setting aside the concerns of Pakistani officials, the US envoy had said that Washington saw India as “a leading global power and a strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region. He added that the US was encouraging India and Pakistan to resume dialogue.

On the occasion, Khawaja Asif had said that Pakistan and the US had not been able to overcome their trust deficit despite recent high-level interactions.

“We haven’t as yet reached complete understanding. There is still trust deficit,” the minister said while talking to reporters on the sidelines of a Pak-US Track-II meeting hosted by the Regional Peace Institute.

On Thursday, Royal Jordanian Air Force Commander Major General Yousef Ahmed Al-Hnaity also called on Gen Bajwa at the GHQ.

"During the meeting matters of mutual interests were discussed. Commander appreciated Pakistan Army’s professionalism and achievements in the war against terrorism.

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