General Michael E Kurilla says Gen Asim has \u2018clear vision\u2019 for his forces
\n ISLAMABAD
\nAmid the ongoing uptick in terrorist violence perpetrated by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the top US military commander has said that the United States is concerned at the threat posed by the TTP to Pakistan\u2019s security.
\n\u201cWe value our bilateral relationship and welcome opportunities to expand our cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as counterterrorism and border security,\u201d Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael E Kurilla, said while responding to a question about the possibility of the US extending support to Pakistan in dealing with the terror threat.
\n\u201cWe are concerned by the threats posed by Tehreek-e-Taliban-Pakistan to Pakistani security and stability. During my visit to the GHQ, we discussed opportunities to address this threat,\u201d General Kurilla \u2013 who visited Islamabad this week \u2013 told The Express Tribune in an exclusive interview on Saturday.
\nThe CENTCOM chief\u2019s visit came at a time when border tensions have been escalating between Pakistan and Afghanistan following deadly skirmishes on the Chaman-Spin Boldak border. General Kurilla also dwelt on the situation in Afghanistan, underlining the fact that Pakistan had much to gain from a \u201cpeaceful and stable Afghanistan.\u201d
\n\u201cWe regularly communicate with Pakistani leadership and discuss Afghanistan in detail. During this trip, I spoke with General Asim about additional cooperation on counter-terrorism operations and border security. These are, of course, matters of great importance to both of us,\u201d he further said.
\n\u201cI also visited the headquarters of XI Corps in Peshawar. XI Corps is the command responsible for security along roughly half the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Alongside XI Corps leaders, I visited the Khyber Pass where we observed defensive belts and observation posts.\u201d
\nAbout the Afghan Taliban, he said: \u201cWe will continue to judge them by their actions, not their words.\u201d
\n\u201cThe US and Pakistan have a shared interest in combatting threats to regional security. The US-Pakistan relationship must stand on its own, through its own bilateral merits and its potential to improve stability across the region,\u201d according to the CENTCOM chief.
\nDuring his visit, General Kurilla held meetings with the top military leadership, including Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and visited Peshawar Corps as well as travelled to the Khyber Pass. This was his first face-to-face meeting with the new Pakistan military leadership after the change of command last month.
\nThe top American general said General Asim Munir has a \u201cclear vision\u201d for his forces and the security of Pakistan. \u201cJust two weeks into command of the Pakistani Army, General Munir has a clear vision for his forces and the security of Pakistan,\u201d he said.
\nThe CENTCOM chief had already held a video conference with General Munir. The two generals established a relationship when General Kurilla was CENTCOM chief of staff while General Munir was heading the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
\n\u201cGeneral Munir and I have a previously established relationship when I was the CENTCOM Chief of Staff and he served as director general of Pakistan\u2019s Inter-Services Intelligence. It is important that we are starting from a strong foundation of trust and respect,\u201d he said when asked how he found the new army chief.
\nThe top American general was impressed with the briefing he was given during his visit to the General Headquarters. \u201cDuring my visit, my team and I received an excellent briefing from General Munir and his staff on their capabilities and ongoing operations. We discussed opportunities for increased military cooperation,\u201d he said.
\nAbout the future of US-Pakistan relationship, the CENTCOM chief said the US values \u201cour long-standing cooperation with Pakistan and has always viewed a prosperous and democratic Pakistan as critical to US interests and the region.\u201d
\n\u201cThat remains unchanged. The US-Pakistan military relationship will remain strong under General Munir\u2019s leadership,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
General Michael E Kurilla says Gen Asim has \u2018clear vision\u2019 for his forces ISLAMABAD Amid the ongoing uptick in terrorist violence perpetrated by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the top US military commander has said that the United States is concerned at the threat posed by the TTP to Pakistan\u2019s security. \u201cWe value our bilateral […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":301912,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-301883","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n