COAS leaves for maiden US visit, will meet mly, govt officials

RAWALPINDI/WASHINGTON: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir has left for the United States on an official visit, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Sunday.

This is General Syed Asim Munir’s first visit to the USA as the COAS. During his visit, General Asim Munir is scheduled to meet senior military and other government officials.

Although the Embassy of Pakistan is tight-lipped about the duration and agenda of the COAS trip to the United States, officials familiar with the situation suggested that Gen Asim Munir’s visit could stretch to five days. During this time he will be meeting with the high-ups of the US Department of Defense as well as the National Security officials.

If the past is any indication, the COAS will also be meeting with various think tank staffers and members of the US Congress at the Pakistan House, the official residence of Pakistan’s ambassador to the US.

The COAS is likely to brief his audiences about Pakistan’s stance on the regional and economic situation. It’s highly likely that the COAS might address members of the diaspora too.

The agenda of the meeting would likely be Pakistan’s efforts to fight off terrorist outfits that find sanctuaries in Afghanistan and the country’s security-related relations with Taliban-run Kabul.