Pak must prevent militants from operating from its soil: US
17 Nov 2017 4:37 PM GMT
Islamabad: In a blunt message to Pakistan, a top US general has told the country's military leadership that Islamabad must prevent militants from operating within its soil and across its borders to bring in security and stability in the region.
US Central Command (Centcom) Commander General Joseph Votel, who was here on a two-day visit, also emphasised the importance of improved Pak-Afghan relations, and the need for strengthened border security, including measures to coordinate military operations along both sides of the border, according to a statement from the US Embassy.
During his visit, Votel met senior Pakistani military commanders including Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Zubair Hayat and Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar.
The US Centcom Commander's visit, his fourth to Islamabad, is believed to be a preparatory visit for the upcoming trip of US Defence Secretary James Mattis, who is likely to visit to Pakistan next month. Pakistan and the US have had a series of meetings to bridge their differences since President Donald Trump's Fort Myer speech on the new US policy for South Asia and Afghanistan in which he criticised Pakistan for showing insincerity in the fight against terrorism despite getting billions of dollars in assistance from America. Trump's harsh language had aggravated the already strained bilateral relations.Votel stressed the Donald Trump Administration's message that Pakistan must prevent all militants.
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