- General McKenzie reaffirms Washington's commitment to work toward stability
- Talks also focused on Afghanistan and relations with India
ISLAMABAD: US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief General Kenneth McKenzie met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad to discuss the regional security situation and measures to work toward peace, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement released on Monday.
Defense Minister Pervez Khattak and Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua were also present at the meeting.
General McKenzie also held talks with Pakistan army's top commander, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, on Sunday, at the military headquarters in Rawalpindi.
“Geo-strategic environment and regional security including Afghanistan and Pakistan-India standoff were discussed,” the military's media wing, also known as the ISPR, said in its statement.
General McKenzie completed a two-day visit to Pakistan on Monday, his first since taking up the role as CENTCOM chief.
“General McKenzie met with high-level Pakistani civilian and military leaders, as well as members of Pakistani civil society,” the US Embassy said on Monday.
Besides meeting with PM Khan, General McKenzie also held talks with civilian and military leadership including the naval and air chiefs, with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat and a coterie of other officials.
“In his meetings, General McKenzie reaffirmed the United States' commitment to security and stability in the region...and discussed Pakistan’s role in facilitating the Afghan peace talks,” the statement added.
General McKenzie also expressed his “appreciation for Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and learned of the recent moves against extremist groups in Pakistan under the National Action Plan,” the statement read.