Pakistan army chief Raheel Sharif having 'positive and productive' meetings in US

WASHINGTON: Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif, who is on his maiden visit to the US, is having 'positive and productive' meetings with American officials both in the military and the administration, a senior State Department official has said.

"General Raheel Sharif began a series of high-level meetings with US 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," Jeff Rathke, State Department Spokesman said yesterday.

Over the weekend Sharif had a detailed meeting with top commanders of the US Central Command in Tampa, Florida.

The United States has a broad relationship with Pakistan, Rathke said.

"And the chief of the army staff is a key figure. 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," he said.

Rathke said the US considered the recent Pakistan army action against terrorists in North Waziristan as extremely important.

"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," he said.

"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," he added.

Sharif is scheduled to meet the Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work at the Pentagon today , Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren told reporters.