KARACHI: In a one-on-one meeting with Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, US Centcom Commander Gen Michael “Erik” Kurilla praised Pakistan’s commendable efforts in the fight against terrorism, counter terrorism experience and efforts for regional peace and stability.

According to a press release issued by the military’s public relations arm — Inter-Services Public Relations — Gen Kurilla visited the military’s General Headquarters on Thursday along with a delegation.

The press release said that matters of mutual interest, regional security situation and stability, defence and security cooperation, particularly military to military ties, were discussed during the meeting.

The one-on-one call was followed by a delegation-level meeting, the statement said.

During the meeting, the Pakistan Army’s counter-terrorism efforts and significant contributions towards regional peace and stability were discussed, while the Pak-US military training exchange programme also came under discussion.

Later, the visiting dignitary visited Army Museum, the statement said.

Earlier, Gen Bajwa and Gen Kurilla had a telephonic conversation on July 29, where they discussed issues of bilateral interest, including the situation in Afghanistan.

Gen Kurilla took charge of Centcom from Marine Corps Gen Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. on April 1 this year.

Centcom consists of more than 44,000 service and family members overseas and nearly 5,000 personnel assigned and attached to the headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

It oversees the strategically sensitive region of the greater Middle East, which includes both Afghanistan and Pakistan. As the Centcom chief, Gen Kurilla looks after US military missions throughout the 21-country area of responsibility in the Middle East, Levant, and Central Asia, as well as leading the 78-nation campaign against the militant Islamic State group.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2022