Amid rise in militant attacks, Pakistan’s military chief meets US commander

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA): The Commander of the US CENTCOM, General Michael Erik Kurilla, met with Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir on Monday and discussed a variety of issues, including the region’s security situation.

The meeting comes on the heels of increasing attacks allegedly carried out by Afghanistan-based militants on Pakistani security forces in recent months. It was held at the army headquarters in the northeastern garrison city of Rawalpindi, said a statement from the army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations.

It also follows Munir’s recent visit to Washington’s arch-rival Iran.

“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security situation and defense cooperation were discussed,” the statement added.

The two reiterated the desire to further enhance bilateral relations between the two armies in “all fields.”

Kurilla “acknowledged and appreciated the Pakistan Army’s successes in the fight against ‘terrorism’ and Pakistan’s continued efforts for bringing peace and stability in the region.”

Earlier last week, the Pakistan Army warned the Afghan Taliban against “providing safe havens” to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and said the TTP militants’ “safe havens and sophisticated weapons” pose a security risk to the country.

Pakistan witnessed a steady increase in militant attacks in the first six months of the current year, which claimed the lives of 389 people, including soldiers.

The TTP is a conglomerate of several anti-state militant groups in Pakistan who operate mostly from, or have links inside, Afghanistan.

Pakistan military chief Munir has claimed that the TTP militants have “freedom of action” across the border in Afghanistan.