RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Bajwa visited UK Ministry of Defence. Upon arrival, the top general was received by UK CGS General Sir Nick Carter and given guard of honour at Horse Guards Square. Later, the COAS had separate meetings with UK Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan Owen Jenkins and US Resolute Support Mission (RSM) Commander General John Nicholson. Matters of mutual interest, including regional geo-political environment with special reference to Afghanistan, came under discussion. The UK leadership and RSM commander praised and acknowledged positive role played by Pakistan and Pakistan Army towards peace and stability. “Pakistan is a peace-loving country and shall continue to play its positive role in bringing about enduring peace and stability in the region,” the army chief was quoted as saying by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Gen Bajwa emphasised that “peace in Afghanistan is a shared interest”, and that “Pakistan will continue its positive role and is ready to work closely with Afghanistan”, said ISPR. He said Pak-Afghan bilateral border security mechanism is critically important and both countries need to formulate this at priority.
“Gen Bajwa shared various border control and management measures which Pakistan has undertaken and urged the requirement of similar measures on the other side of the border to defeat the common enemy,” read the statement. The top general also highlighted that CPEC should be viewed as an economic maneuver since it aims at fostering inclusive development in best interest of the region and beyond. The COAS also thanked UK leadership for their assistance during war on terror.
