Chief of the Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir left for an official visit of the United States of America (USA) on Sunday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
According to a statement issued by military’s media wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), this is General Syed Asim Munir’s first visit to the USA as Chief of the Army Staff (COAS).
During his visit, General Syed Asim Munir (Nishan-i-Imtiaz-Military) is scheduled to meet senior military and other government officials of the USA.
It may be mentioned here that the Army Chief’s visit to the US came after several visits to Islamabad by the US officials in recent days.
The latest visit to Islamabad was of an American delegation led by US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Elizabeth Horst who has landed in the Pakistani capital yesterday on a four-day visit.
US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Horst visit will conclude on December 12.
It is the third visit by the American officials in the current month of December.
The US official will meet caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani during her visit. During her meetings with the Pakistani officials, Ms Horst will hold talks on improving Pak-US ties and promoting mutual cooperation.
She will exchange views on situation in Afghanistan, Afghan refugees and regional security.
Pakistan has evicted thousands of Afghan nationals staying illegally in the country. As per reports, 25,000 Afghan nationals waiting for the completion of their resettlement process in America are also residing in Pakistan.
The sources said that US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West left Islamabad for Doha late Friday night. West met with Foreign Minister Jilani and Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan Asif Durrani.
Earlier, US Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees and Migration Juliet Wallace Noyes visited Pakistan this month.
Commenting on the US officials’ visit to Pakistan, Foreign Office’s Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said on December 4 that the upcoming visit of the US officials was part of the routine. “Pakistan and the US have been partners for a long time. We hold dialogues with the US on the economy, education, climate change, defence, and security.”
She was responding to a question regarding the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West leading a delegation to Pakistan for a meeting with top-level officials in December.
The sources disclosed later that the discussion focused on the issue of 25,000 Afghan refugees currently living in Pakistan.
Reporter Ahmad Mansoor