Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif arrives in US, focus on Afghanistan peace process

WASHINGTON: Pakistan's powerful army chief General Raheel Sharif has arrived in the US for a five-day visit during which he will hold talks with top defence officials on key issues with special focus on the Afghanistan peace process and Indo-Pak ties.

General Raheel arrives in the US at a critical time when the entire focus of the Obama Administration is on tackling the dreaded Islamic State terror group in the aftermath of the horrific Paris terror attacks that claimed over 129 lives.

Significantly, Raheel is visiting the US on his own as there was no official invitation either from his American counterpart or the Pentagon.

"The visit is very significant as it is taking place at a time when important changes are taking place in our region and situation is changing," Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations Director Lt General Asim Bajwa told Pakistani journalists here hours ahead of Raheel's arrival yesterday.

Bajwa said the Pakistan army chief's talks with top American defence officials was expected to include bilateral military-to-military relations and issues of regional security and stability.

Raheel, during his visit, would meet Vice President Joe Biden. Other meetings that he would have during his stay in Washington include with Secretary of State John Kerry, Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Joseph Dunford, Army Chief of Staff Gen Mark Milley and Director CIA John Brennan besides influential US lawmakers.

While Afghanistan is expected to be one of the major issues of discussion along with the supply of latest arms and military hardware to Pakistan, India too is expected to figure in the talks, he said.

Bajwa said that there have been issues on the eastern border with India and until these issues were settled, it will remain a major issue in the context of regional peace and security.