Pakistan Army Chief to visit Sri Lanka on Wednesday

[Lankan Ranger]

Pakistan Army Chief to visit Sri Lanka on Wednesday

Pakistani Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani is to arrive in Sri Lanka on Wednesday (January 19) on a three-day official visit to forge stronger defence ties with the Emerging Indian Ocean Economy.

Gen. Kayani is scheduled call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and commanders of Sri Lanka’s tri-forces.

His visit was preceded by visits by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in last November and by Pakistani Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman three-day official visit last year.

A distinguished alumni of Jhelum Military College and Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, Gen. Kayani is regarded by many as a true leader having a futuristic vision for the country’s military. He is also a graduate of United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia; Command and Staff College, Fort Levinworth, Kansas; Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, Hawai; and National Defence College, Islamabad.

General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, born in 1952, is a four star general in the Pakistan Army, who replaced General Pervez Musharraf as the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) and the commandant of the army on November 29, 2007.

Gen. Kayani was hailed for his leadership portrayed during his stints in the past as the former Director General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and Director General of Military Operations (MO). Last July, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani extended Gen. Kayani’s term as CoAS by three years, making him the first Pakistani army chief to receive a term extension from any democratically-elected government.

In 2008 August following a request from Gen. Kayani, Sri Lanka Army Commander Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya said that Sri Lanka had happily agreed to give training to members of the Pakistani military.

Although India backed out from supplying military equipment to Sri Lanka during the final lap of the war, Pakistan had been a constant friend of Sri Lanka by continuing its supplies which was cited by many as being vital during that crucial stage.

Pakistan Army Chief to visit Sri Lanka on Wednesday | Asian Tribune

 

[somebozo]

Perfect, this co-incides with indian naval cheif visit to lanka...

 

[Lankan Ranger]

Pakistan Training about 2000 Sri Lanka’s Troops every year includes Army, Navy, Air force & Special Task Force.

Pakistan remains the largest trainer for Sri Lankan Armed Forces

 

[fatman17]

Perfect, this co-incides with indian naval cheif visit to lanka...

maybe they meet for a c/peg or a ciggy!!!

 

[Capt.Popeye]

maybe they meet for a c/peg or a ciggy!!!

Actually it's the Indian CAS who is visiting Sri Lanka now! If he is upto it; he can indeed meet up for a c/peg or p/peg.
Either a BD (your choice) or a single malt (my choice).

 

[fatman17]

News

Pakistan was always there for Sri Lanka: Gen. Kayani.

Says arms race with India not option for Pakistan

By Yasasmin Kaviratne

Pakistan stood by Sri Lanka at a time of crisis and that will be the foundation of a new friendship and it will be etched in the memories of the people of the two nations, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army said.

Addressing the student officers of Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) at Sapugaskanda on Friday, the visiting Army chief said be it weapons or training for military personnel, Pakistan always came forward to help Sri Lanka.


General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani addressing student officers at DSCSC. Pic by Sanka Vidanagama
He was here on a three day visit which ended on Friday. General Kayani said although the war against the LTTE has been won, the battle is still on as it will be won only when ex combatants are reintegrated into society. He added that a lot could be learnt from the expertise of the Sri Lankan army in fighting terrorism.

He said terrorism could be created by growing radicalism. “In the case of Sri Lanka, it grew in terms of ethnicity. But usually in South Asia radicalism grows in terms of religion,” he said adding that people are more sensitive when it comes to religion than ethnicity and that’s the situation Pakistan was facing presently.

Commenting on the relations with its neighbour country India, he said, “An arms race with India is not an option for Pakistan,” adding that the defence budget of India is nine or ten times bigger than Pakistan’s. But he said that he stands by the fact that he is India-centric as Pakistan has some unresolved issues and a history of conflicts with its neighbour.

He elaborated that there should be a right balance between defence and development and that was the way forward for the South Asia region. “Strategic stability means having stable and secure neighbours as it enhances security and peace within the country. An arms race is not an option for South Asia,” he said.

Commenting on Afghanistan and President Obama’s change in strategy to pull out of Afghanistan in 2014 instead of 2011, the General said that the question is how things are going to shape up by 2014 as no one has a clear idea of how things would turn out.

He added that what happens in Afghanistan is important to Pakistan not only because it shares a long border but because there are many tribal villages in the border for whom these don’t mater much.
Moreover, he said, if Afghanistan is secure, then many border and security issues that Pakistan faces too could be solved. “One cannot isolate Afghanistan from Pakistan,” he emphasized.

The Defence College Commandant, Major General Jagath Rambukpotha, welcoming Army chief said when Sri Lanka sought Pakistan’s assistance during the war the Pakistan General’s answer was, “We are coming to help. Don’t worry, we are coming”.

 

[REHAN NIAZI FALCON]

PAKISTAN and SRI LANKA are and will be good friends.