Kayani, Petraeus reaffirm Pak-US strategic partnership

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE: Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani met with US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Gen David Petraeus on the weekend to reaffirm the strategic partnership between Pakistan and the US, a CENTCOM press release said on Sunday.

According to the press release, Petraeus and Kayani discussed ways to advance cooperation and collaboration in countering extremist violence in Afghanistan, as well as US support for Pakistan’s struggle against terrorism.

On Afghanistan, they discussed improvements in coordination between Pakistan’s military and US forces in Eastern Afghanistan. Petraeus commended Kayani on Pakistan’s hard-fought gains against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in Swat, as well as the military’s impressive counter-insurgency campaign. During his own visit to Pakistan last month, the CENTCOM commander travelled to Swat, and has since noted the strides Islamabad has taken in the region.

Kayani also met with Special Operations Command Commander Adm Eric Olson, and watched the US Navy’s “Blue Angels” flight demonstration team at the MacDill Air Fest. The army chief attended further meetings at the CENTCOM headquarters this morning, after which he departed MacDill Air Force Base, the press release added.

Kayani is due to meet Defence Secretary Robert Gates and top US military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, on Monday afternoon.

Also, the army chief is due to hold a dinner meeting on Tuesday evening with Mullen, who has made a point of cultivating relations with Kayani. agencies