Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: A day after a top American general met Pakistani military leadership, Chinese Special Envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Deng Xijun called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters, Rawalpindi, on Friday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), matters of mutual interest including regional security issues with particular emphasis on Pak-Afghan border management and counterterrorism efforts came under discussion during the meeting.

The Chinese special envoy appreciated and acknowledged Pakistan Army’s contributions and nation’s sacrifices in war on terror.

On Thursday, US Central Command Chief General Joseph Votel, who was on a two-day visit to Islamabad, held wide-ranging talks with top military leadership including Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Zubair Hayat, Army Chief Gen Qamar, and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar.

Gen Votel, while expressing appreciation for Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, conveyed a message from the Trump administration that Pakistan must prevent all militants from operating within and across its borders, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy.

According to the military’s media wing, the army chief emphasised that Pakistan had done its best in the fight against terrorism, despite constraints. Gen Bajwa insisted that such efforts would continue for the sake of the country’s future, in line with the aspirations of Pakistani people. The army chief also informed the CENTCOM chief that despite Pakistan’s enormous efforts, Afghanistan was not doing enough to secure the border. This was evident from the continued attacks from across the border, he pointed out.

Published in Daily Times, November 18^th 2017.