ISLAMABAD – Chief of Army Staff (CAOS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani asked US military leaders in a meeting in Muscat to acknowledge the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces in the US-led war on terror, according to an ISPR statement issued here on Wednesday.
General Kayani also discussed regional security issues with the US top brass, as well as ways to better coordinate military operations between the two countries. “I was pleased to have the opportunity to discuss with American officers the progress we have made in fighting extremists in our country and to offer them my thoughts about how our two sides might better cooperate,” said Kayani.
He said that Pakistan’s soldiers had fought bravely and accomplished much at great cost, which was a sacrifice that must be honoured. An official who requested anonymity said that General Kayani’s statement was meant to convey to the US Pakistan’s frustration over the questions being raised in the West about Islamabad’s counter-terrorism efforts.
He said that it was a clear message on the part of the Pakistan army chief that discontent and disappointment prevailed in Islamabad over the failure of US and its western allies to acknowledge the sacrifice of the country’s armed forces and the constraints and difficulties faced by Pakistan in the global anti-terrorism campaign.
General Kayani also met Oman’s army chief. The meeting was attended by US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, US Central Command Commander, General James Mattis, US Special Operations Command Commander, Admiral Eric Olson and General David Petraeus, the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan.
According to the statement, accompanying General Kayani were Major General Javed Iqbal, Director General of Military Operations and Brigadier Muhammad Saeed.
