CHIEF of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday met US Central Command (Centcom) Commander General Michael E Kurilla at the Pakistan Army General Headquarters (GHQ) and discussed matters of mutual interest, regional security situation and stability, defence and security cooperation particularly military to military ties.
According to ISPR, the two leaders had a one-on-one call followed by a delegation-level meeting in which Pakistan Army’s counter-terrorism efforts and significant contribution toward regional peace and stability were discussed.
We have all along been emphasizing in these columns that Pakistan cannot afford to have estranged ties with the United States because of vital trade and economic linkages.
The United States is one of the major destinations for Pakistani exports and the largest source of home remittances by Overseas Pakistanis.
The relationship between the two countries witnessed many ups and downs in the past because of bilateral issues and regional and global developments.
The latest twist came when the former Prime Minister Imran Khan accused Washington of conspiring with the opposition parties in Pakistan to bring about so-called regime change, a charge which is not substantiated by ground realities.
It is, however, satisfying that despite differences of opinion on some aspects of the Afghan situation and bilateral rhetoric; the ties have started improving due to the sober approach of the leaders of the new government in Pakistan and military diplomacy by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
We welcome the latest thaw in relations and hope that Washington would not insist on its previously negative posture vis-à-vis our nuclear programme and development initiatives like CPEC that are vital for overall socio-economic growth of the country so that the relations become sustainable on people-to-people level as well.
