Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharif meets top American defence leadership

WASHINGTON: Top American Defence leadership met with Pakistani Army Chief General Raheel Sharif here and emphasised the importance of sustained and substantive talks between the two countries, a Pentagon spokesperson said.

Deputy US Secretary of Defense Bob Work and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey met with Gen Sharif at the Pentagon yesterday.

"The leaders discussed regional security issues and their commitment to an enduring partnership. They also emphasized the importance of sustained and substantive dialogue as we continue to develop the bilateral military-to-military relationship," Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said after the meeting.

"This was Gen Sharif's first official visit to the United States since becoming the chief of army staff in November 2013," Kirby said.

Gen Sharif is currently on a week-long trip to the US. After arriving in the US over the weekend, he held a series of meetings at the Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

On Monday, gen Sharif met the CENTCOM Commander General Lloyd Austin. He is scheduled to meet Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today.

He has also met with Chief of the Staff of the Army Gen Raymond T Odierno and Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen Joseph F Dunford.