ISLAMABAD, 5 May 2006 — Pakistan and the United States yesterday discussed ways to further reinforce military ties and the ongoing counterterrorism cooperation as the visiting US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Gen. John P. Abizaid met President Gen. Pervez Musharraf here.
“President Musharraf and Gen. Abizaid discussed the geostrategic environment and regional (security) situation,” said an official statement issued after the meeting.
According to the statement, issues like intensified joint efforts to curb the menace of terrorism, close coordination between Pakistan and US Army on Pakistan-Afghan border, sharing of intelligence and adoption of new methods to control terrorists crossings on Pakistan-Afghan border were discussed. The situation in Afghanistan was also discussed at length.
Musharraf told Gen. Abizaid that Pakistan had enhanced its border patrolling and was following proactive intelligence to track down and eliminate terrorist elements.
Gen. Abizaid lauded Pakistan’s efforts in combating terrorism effectively.
Gen. Abizaid arrived in Islamabad Wednesday evening. Before meeting Musharraf, he held meetings with senior Pakistan Army personnel.
Later, the US general flew to Chirat, the home of Pakistan Army’s elite Special Services Group, where Pakistani, Afghan and American forces are conducting joint military exercises, codenamed “Inspired Gambit-6.” They are designed to test new methods to combat terrorism and will continue for 10 days.
The plan to hold joint exercises was approved during 16th Tripartite Commission of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States last month in Rawalpindi.
They are intended to promote coordination between commanders of the Pakistani, Afghan and US armies on the Pakistan-Afghan border. They are also intended to hamper regular intrusion of Taleban rebels from Afghanistan into Pakistan and to track their hideouts both in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The joint drills were aimed at improving coordination among military personnel of the three countries engaged in the ongoing war against terror.
This is the first time that a unit of the Afghan National Army is taking part in the exercises at the invitation of the Pakistanis.
Later, Gen. Abizaid also visited the army headquarters in the garrison town of Rawalpindi and met Deputy Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ehsan Saleem Hayat.
Gen. Abizaid’s visit coincides with a two-day trip to Pakistan by a senior US Department of State Counterterrorism Coordinator, Henry A. Crumpton.
Crumpton is scheduled to meet with Foreign Office and Home Ministry officials before travelling to Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates to meet with his counterparts there.
According to diplomatic sources, he is here for bilateral consultations on terrorist groups which have been banned either by the United States or Pakistan.
The United States had recently declared Jamat-ud-Dawa a terrorist organization whereas Pakistan did not do so. Pakistan earlier banned Lashkar-e-Toiba, which was a “jihadi” organization.
Its leader Hafiz Saeed later formed Jamat-ud-Dawa which was designated as a mere preaching organization.
Against this backdrop, local diplomatic circles are attaching much significance to Crumpton’s visit to Pakistan. So far no official comment was available. The Political Section of the US Embassy in Islamabad, however, confirmed the presence of Crumpton in Islamabad. His visit to the region is seen as very significant.
