NEWS DESK
ISLAMABAD: General Michael E. Kurilla, the United States (US) Central Command (CENTCOM) chief, has lauded Pakistan’s counter-terror operations to maintain regional security and stability.
In an interview, the CENTCOM chief, who has concluded his two-day state visit to Pakistan from December 14-16, said that he was looking forward to continuing collaboration with Pakistan’s new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir in fighting the shared threats to regional stability peace and security.
General Kurilla held meetings with the military leadership of Pakistan to reaffirm security relations between the two nations. He also visited the Torkham border crossing to discuss the security situation along the Pak-Afghan border.
He termed his visit a success as he met Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and army chief General Asim Munir.”
Asked if the US still looks at Pakistan through the prism of Afghanistan, the CENTCOM chief said, “We view the US-Pakistan ties through our own bilateral merits and its potential to improve peace and stability across the region, adding that it was broad-based and important for our countries, for the region and the world.
Pakistan’s role for regional stability
General Kurilla also mentioned the grant assistance to Pakistan for the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program, which he said was “beneficial to both militaries.”
The IMET’s professional military education and operational and technical courses strengthen Pakistan’s counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism capabilities, and the skills courses improve institutional capacity and resource management. He added that the US would seek to continue and increase opportunities for the IMET program.
The CENTCOM chief also outlined the US support to Pakistan through numerous development and assistance projects in health, agriculture, education, entrepreneurship, and energy. “These are all important components of the broader U.S-Pakistan bilateral relationship,” he emphasized.
On recent flash floods in Pakistan, he said the US provided over $97 million in assistance while its troops delivered supplies to the government. He said that the US is actively assessing the situation to determine additional needs.
To a query about the scope of Pak-U.S. intelligence sharing and joint military exercises, he said that the information sharing was vital to achieving sustained action against all militant and terrorist groups.
US, Pakistan cooperation for regional peace, stability
He mentioned the Falcon Talon 2022, a major bilateral aerial training event this February and March, which he said showed the United States enduring commitment to maintaining a shared understanding of threats in the region.
General Kurilla highlighted that Pakistan held command of a Combined Maritime Forces Task Force longer than any other nation.
“The Pakistan armed forces are a participant and a leading force within the Combined Maritime Forces, the world’s largest multinational maritime partnership, which exists to uphold the Rules-Based International Order at sea,” he said.
He mentioned that Pakistan Navy commanded two of the Combined Maritime Forces’ four task forces. This includes the command of Combined Task Force 150 by Pakistan Navy Commodore Vaqar Muhammad on maritime security operations outside the Arabian Gulf from January to July this year. Also, Commodore Ahmed Hussain commanded Combined Task Force 151 on counter-piracy operations from April to August this year.
“We are grateful for Pakistan’s leading role in this important international maritime partnership,” he expressed.
