High-Level Talks on Regional Security Between Gen Asim Munir and CENTOM Chief Kurilla
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, currently on an official visit to the US, visited Headquarters Central Command in Tampa Bay, Florida, where he held a meeting with CENTCOM Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla, as per the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement on Tuesday.
The discussion during the meeting, according to the military’s media wing, focused on matters of shared interest, with a particular emphasis on cooperation in regional security. Both sides explored avenues for joint training and emphasized the importance of enhancing training interactions between CENTCOM and the Pakistan Army.
General Munir also visited the CENTCOM Joint Operations Center as part of his visit to the US, marking his maiden official trip since assuming office in November of the previous year.
During the visit, the COAS held meetings with high-ranking US officials, including Secretary of State Antony J Blinken, Secretary of Defence General (retd) Llyod J Austin, Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Finer, and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Q Brown.
The discussions in these meetings resulted in an agreement to strengthen cooperation on matters related to counter-terrorism and defence collaboration, as stated in the ISPR’s release.
Responding to queries about General Munir’s ongoing visit, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller mentioned on Monday that the army chief engaged with several senior officials at the State Department and Pentagon. He highlighted that Pakistan is a major non-NATO ally of the United States and a NATO partner, expressing anticipation for collaboration on regional security and defence.
