Gen Asim Munir, CENTOM chief Kurilla hold talks on regional security

Islamabad: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, who is on an official visit to the US, visited Headquarters Central Command at Tampa Bay in Florida, and held a meeting with CENTCOM Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the military’s media wing said matters of shared interests, particularly cooperation in regional security matters, came under discussion.

“Both sides discussed avenues of joint training and reiterated the need for enhancing training interactions between CENTCOM and Pakistan Army,” the ISPR said.

Gen Munir also visited the CENTCOM Joint Operations Center.

Gen Munir landed in the US last week on his maiden official visit to the country since assuming office in November last year.

Earlier, the army chief held meetings with top US officials including Secretary of State Antony J Blinken, Secretary of Defence General (retd) Llyod J Austin, Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Finer and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Q Brown during the visit.

In the meetings, Pakistan and the US agreed to enhance cooperation on matters related to counter-terrorism and defence collaboration, according to ISPR’s statement.

Responding to a question related to General Munir’s ongoing visit to the US, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said Monday that the army chief met a number of senior officials at the State Department and Pentagon.

“Pakistan is a major non-NATO ally of the United States and a NATO partner. We look forward to partnering with them on regional security and defence cooperation,” he added.