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COAS in US: Army praised for Zarb-i-Azb, fight against terror

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[URL='http://www.dawn.com/news/1145275/coas-in-us-army-praised-for-zarb-i-azb-fight-against-terror']COAS in US: Army praised for Zarb-i-Azb, fight against terror[/url]

Dawn
Anwar Iqbal
Nov 18 2014

WASHINGTON: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif called on US Central Command (Centcom) chief General Lloyd J. Austin, on Monday in Tampa, Florida, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major-General Asim Bajwa said in a tweet on micro-blogging website Twitter.

During the meeting, General Austin praised the Pakistan Army for its commitment, professionalism and achievement in the fight against terror as well as the ongoing Zarb-i-Azb operation.

Bajwa further tweeted that the focus of discussions remained regional security and stability.
Military high-ups from both sides discussed a number of relevant issues.

“Gen. Sharif gave Pakistan’s perspective on regional security, improving Pak-Afghan military relations and Indian aggression along the Line of Control,” Gen. Bajwa mentioned in another tweet.

The Pakistani military delegation was received with a guard of honour at the headquarters of the US Central Command.

Also read: US hopeful of improving ties with Pak military

Meanwhile, the US State Department confirmed on Monday that General Raheel Sharif held “a series of high-level” meetings at the headquarters of the US Central Command.

General Sharif is visiting the United States on an invitation of the Chairman US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey for talks aimed at rebuilding a long-term bilateral relationship between the two armies.
The Pakistani army chief “began his visit to the United States with a series of high-level meetings with US officials at Central Command headquarters in Florida,” Jeff Rathke, a State Department spokesman, told a news briefing in Washington.

“We have a broad relationship with Pakistan and chief of the army staff is a key figure,” he said.
Rathke said senior State Department officials would engage with Gen. Sharif when he returns to Washington.


“Already, he has been having productive and positive meetings, focusing on a range of issues from the situation in Waziristan to border security,” he said.

The United States considers this relationship “extremely important” in the fight against extremists, said the US official.
 
On one hand, USA is the #1 hated country in Pakistan. On the other hand, any positive endorsements, like the one above, are sought after too. Why the national schizophrenia?

==================

Edit: Here is the relevant portion of the State Department's briefing:

.............

QUESTION: I have one on Afghanistan-Pakistan. Last week --

MR. RATHKE: I’m sorry, just a moment. Anything else on Iran before we move? Okay, go ahead.

QUESTION: Last week, four countries – Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India – established a joint venture company for transportation of gas from Turkmenistan to India, passing through Afghanistan and Pakistan. Do you have anything to say on that, on that four-countries gas pipeline?

MR. RATHKE: I don’t have anything to – on that. I’m happy to look and see if there’s something I can share, but I just don’t have anything in front of me.

QUESTION: I have one more small thing. The Pakistan’s army chief is visiting.

MR. RATHKE: Yes.

QUESTION: Is anyone from this building meeting him? And --

MR. RATHKE: So General Raheel Sharif began his first visit to the United States as chief of the army staff with a series of high-level meetings with U.S. officials and a visit to Central Command headquarters in Florida. Senior State Department officials will continue to engage with General Raheel Sharif, and the State Department will participate in the general’s visit. But at the moment, I don’t have further details to announce about exactly whom he would meet with and when and that kind of scheduling information.

QUESTION: From the State Department’s perspective, what are the issues that you plan to – that you’re planning to discuss with him?

MR. RATHKE: Well, of course, we have a broad relationship with Pakistan, and the chief of the army staff is a key figure. So we’ve been having – already he’s been having productive and positive meetings. They’ve focused on a range of issues, from the situation in North Waziristan to border security and so forth.

QUESTION: He is coming to this – to the city after (inaudible) you said and the actions against terrorists in North Waziristan for the past several months. Are you satisfied by the actions that the Pakistan army has taken against terrorist groups?

MR. RATHKE: Well, of course, we consider it extremely important to, the fight against extremist groups and we’ve offered at every stage to be supportive, and we remain in dialogue with our Pakistani counterparts about that. I don’t have anything new to read out about that. Of course, the general will be meeting with a range of high-level Administration and congressional officials this week, which is an opportunity to continue that conversation.

Samir, and then we’ll go to Ilhan.

..........................
 
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On one hand, USA is the #1 hated country in Pakistan. On the other hand, any positive endorsements, like the one above, are sought after too. Why the national schizophrenia?

==================

Edit: Here is the relevant portion of the State Department's briefing:

.............

QUESTION: I have one on Afghanistan-Pakistan. Last week --

MR. RATHKE: I’m sorry, just a moment. Anything else on Iran before we move? Okay, go ahead.

QUESTION: Last week, four countries – Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India – established a joint venture company for transportation of gas from Turkmenistan to India, passing through Afghanistan and Pakistan. Do you have anything to say on that, on that four-countries gas pipeline?

MR. RATHKE: I don’t have anything to – on that. I’m happy to look and see if there’s something I can share, but I just don’t have anything in front of me.

QUESTION: I have one more small thing. The Pakistan’s army chief is visiting.

MR. RATHKE: Yes.

QUESTION: Is anyone from this building meeting him? And --

MR. RATHKE: So General Raheel Sharif began his first visit to the United States as chief of the army staff with a series of high-level meetings with U.S. officials and a visit to Central Command headquarters in Florida. Senior State Department officials will continue to engage with General Raheel Sharif, and the State Department will participate in the general’s visit. But at the moment, I don’t have further details to announce about exactly whom he would meet with and when and that kind of scheduling information.

QUESTION: From the State Department’s perspective, what are the issues that you plan to – that you’re planning to discuss with him?

MR. RATHKE: Well, of course, we have a broad relationship with Pakistan, and the chief of the army staff is a key figure. So we’ve been having – already he’s been having productive and positive meetings. They’ve focused on a range of issues, from the situation in North Waziristan to border security and so forth.

QUESTION: He is coming to this – to the city after (inaudible) you said and the actions against terrorists in North Waziristan for the past several months. Are you satisfied by the actions that the Pakistan army has taken against terrorist groups?

MR. RATHKE: Well, of course, we consider it extremely important to, the fight against extremist groups and we’ve offered at every stage to be supportive, and we remain in dialogue with our Pakistani counterparts about that. I don’t have anything new to read out about that. Of course, the general will be meeting with a range of high-level Administration and congressional officials this week, which is an opportunity to continue that conversation.

Samir, and then we’ll go to Ilhan.

..........................


calm down bro


Leftists media and academia has always hated USA.

Nothing new.

Pak army for now is one of the major pro-West group in Pak.
 
calm down bro


Leftists media and academia has always hated USA.

Nothing new.

Pak army for now is one of the major pro-West group in Pak.

Calling the Army "Pro-West" is a bit of a stretch. "Pro-Dollars" is much closer to the truth.
 
Calling the Army "Pro-West" is a bit of a stretch. "Pro-Dollars" is much closer to the truth.
Criticism for the sake of criticism, my friend? :D





Environment more favourable for solid engagement with US now

The National Security Desk
Friday, November 21, 2014

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif along with a military delegation, which included Director General Military Operations Major General Amir Riaz, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Asim S. Bajwa, as well as his Secretariat’s Staff, landed in the US last weekend for a week of ‘military diplomacy’ with senior US military and administration officials.

The first phase of the dialogue was held at the US Central Command (Centcom) – which oversees US military operations in the Middle East and Asia – where General Sharif met Centcom commander General Lloyd J. Austin III. According to the information shared by the Pakistani military, the US command was briefed on the advances made in the ongoing military operation, Zarb-e-Azab, in North Waziristan.

In the backdrop of a recent Pentagon report claiming that Pakistan continues to harbour and support militants, General Sharif’s messaging was that the ongoing operation was non-discriminatory – an allusion to allegations that the Pakistani military continues to support the Haqqani Network, which is responsible for many of the more than 2000 U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan.

At Centcom, the Chief underlined that a strong, long-term US-Pakistan military relationship was vital for regional stability, according to the ISPR. Major General Asim S. Bajwa further tweeted that “Gen Raheel gave Pak perspective on regional security, improving Pak Afghn mil relation. Indian aggression along LOC also discussed” [sic].

The Centcom commander shared the view on strong US-Pak military co-operation (“importance of a strong U.S.-Pakistani security relationship”, according to a Centcom spokesperson quoted in a Florida newspaper) and acknowledged the gains made in the ongoing North Waziristan operation, according to reports and statements.

After Florida, General Sharif and his delegation flew to Washington D.C. where he was first conferred with the honour of the Legion of Merit in a 30-minute ceremony and then later had meetings with senior Department of Defense (DoD) officials at the Pentagon which included Chairman Joint Chief of Staff (CJCS) General Martin Dempsey and Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work.

In a statement from the Pentagon, the two sides “emphasized the importance of sustained and substantive dialogue as we continue to develop the bilateral military-to-military relationship”.

India figured in the talks too. General Sharif discussed the recent flare-up along the Line of Control with India and stressed that it was hindering the Pakistani efforts against militants in North Waziristan, according to the ISPR’s tweets. An official source added: “The discussion about India was pegged on the common sense that its current attitude is counter productive to anti-terror efforts in the region.”

Interestingly, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel was missing from these meetings due to his domestic engagements, announced on 11th November. He was expected to arrive on Tuesday evening but it is yet unclear whether he will be meeting General Sharif. The trip is expected to extend to the West Coast of the US.

The Pakistani military delegation also held meetings with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate Armed Forces Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence and briefed them on the ongoing military campaigns against militants in Pakistan’s restive tribal areas.

According to the ISPR, senior administration officials acknowledged the gains made in the ongoing operation Zarb-e-Azb and both sides expressed “resolve to continue this operation till elimination of the last terrorist”. According to the military’s spokesperson’ office, matters pertaining to regional security were also discussed and a desire for a long-term strategic partnership was expressed by both sides.

From Capitol Hill, the army chief then headed to the White House, where he met US National Security Adviser (NSA), Susan Rice. Both held “in depth discussions” on bilateral security issues, according to the military. The Army Chief raised the matter of violence along the Line of Control again with the NSA. Afghanistan’s stability also came under discussion and both sides expressed optimism on the steps taken by Afghanistan and Pakistan towards regional stability especially after the election of new Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani.

A dinner was also hosted later that night at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington D.C. which was attended by senior State Department and DoD officials. According to an ISPR tweet, the army chief reiterated his point that Pakistan was taking action against all militant groups including the Haqqani Network. The Chief was also reported to have said that no organisation like ISIS [Islamic State in Iraq and Syria] will be allowed to flourish in the Af-Pak region.

The Army Chief is expected to remain in the U.S. till the end of the week, at least. He is to visit other parts of the country and leave Washington by Thursday evening. Regional discussions on the future of Afghanistan and relations with India are expected to remain on the agenda, however. He also gave a talk at the New America Foundation on Thursday, his first public engagement in the US.

As for the politics of it, the US side was expected to bring up the Haqqani Network – the dangerous militant group that often dominates US-Pak bilateralism. There was some boat-rocking after the recent statements that came out of the Foreign Office by the National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz which suggested that Pakistan would not take action against militants who pose no direct threat to it. These were slammed by the State Department, and clarified by the Foreign Office to have been taken out of context.

But, according to members of the delegation, Aziz’s statement did not dominate the proceedings in either Florida or Washington during General Sharif’s visit. “Nobody raised the topic of the [recently published] Pentagon report,” said an official present during the interactions. “But to be to be honest, they did talk about the Haqqanis…However, people here are understanding ground realities, and are listening to other perspectives.”

The mood in Washington? The Chief’s visit is being carefully watched in Washington D.C. The intelligentsia are viewing him as somebody who is ‘different’ from his predecessor, Ashfaq Kayani.

The US-based experts have been cited with opinions about General Sharif. While RAND’s Jason Campbell highlighted General Sharif’s role in changing Pakistan army’s focus from an India-centric force to a counter terrorism force, Shuja Nawaz of the Atlantic Council saw this trip as an effort on General Sharif’s part to redefine and reinvent the US-Pakistan relations as the US forces withdraw from Afghanistan. Daniel Markey of the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) thought that Raheel Sharif, after highlighting Pakistan’s recent gains in dismantling the militant infrastructure in North Waziristan, would stress for a similar action across the border in Afghanistan where most of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leadership supposedly resides.

What’s on the table?

After years, the environment seems more favorable for any substantive engagement with U.S.: the military’s democratic credentials, even in a Dharna’d out Pakistan, are largely intact. The gains for Zarb-e-Azb are tangible, and have been acknowledged by both Kabul and Washington. The drone programme – now a “given” - is about as controversial as it will get after 10 years and over 400 strikes. As for hardware, though it hasn’t dominated the proceedings, Pakistan has already shown interest in buying US military equipment in Afghanistan as its forces prepare to draw down from the country.

Negotiations are already underway on the sale of counter terrorism equipment including the Mine Resisted Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs), some of which are already operational in North Waziristan. Progress on this end could be expected as the Secretary of State John Kerry has already signed a waiver earlier this year that authorizes US sales of arms to Pakistan throughout the year. On the heel of the Chief’s visit, the DCG [Defence Consultative Group] will be meeting to figure out the hardware equation, moving forward.
 
Criticism for the sake of criticism, my friend?

No, just being factual and realistic. Isn't it amazing how a little bit of pomp and show goes a long way into appeasing? :D

Let us come back to this post the next time USA does something you do not like. Then it will be the Great Satan again until some more military hardware is transferred. It is all a cyclic game.
 
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