COAS visits White House, meets US VP Joe Biden

WASHINGTON: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif visited the White House in Washington DC on Thursday where he met US Vice President Joe Biden.

According DG ISPR Lt-Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, Biden appreciated Pakistan's contributions in the war against terrorism and expressed the wishes in Washington to further the growing relationship between the two countries.

Both sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, regional security and stability in a candid and cordial atmosphere, said the DG ISPR.

"General Raheel Sharif and US Vice President Joe Biden stressed on the early resumption of the reconciliation process to achieve lasting peace in Afghanistan, which is critical to peace and stability in the region," he said.

Acknowledging Pakistan's crucial role for peace, the US vice-president recognized Pakistan's immense sacrifices both in terms of human lives and economic losses.

Biden also reiterated Washignton's commitment to work closely with Pakistan in all areas of mutual interest, and to deepen and further expand cooperation to counter new and emerging threats, said the military spokesman.

General Sharif gave Pakistan's perspective of security and stability in the region which, he emphasised, needs to be understood.