Pentagon chief meets PM Nawaz, Army Chief
This is the first visit by an American defense secretary in nearly four years.
(Web Desk) - Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday as Washington seeks to defuse tensions over controversial US drone strikes and Islamabad s role in Afghanistan.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif‚ Finance Minister Ishaq Dar‚ Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi were also present on the occasion.
In the first visit by a US defence secretary in nearly four years, Hagel flew from Kabul to Islamabad to meet the premier and the country s new army chief General Raheel Sharif.
After greeting Prime Minister Sharif at the start of their talks, Hagel said Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan had a "lot of common and mutual interests" and that he looked forward to discussing regional issues.
Hagel was in Pakistan "in recognition of the tremendous support that Pakistan has provided in the war on terror", a senior US defence official told reporters.
The defence secretary wanted "to deepen our defence partnership" and to affirm continued US military assistance, the official said.
"There is some friction in the relationship" and Hagel wished to tackle that "head on", he added.
During today s meeting‚ Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stressed that “Drone strikes have a negative impact on Pakistan’s efforts against extremism” .
He said Pakistan wants to strengthen relations with the United States in all sectors. He said Pakistan will continue to play its role for peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Later, the US Defence Secretary called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif at General Headquarters.
Issues concerning defence relationship, Pak-US bilateral ties and regional stability came under discussion.
US Secretary of Defence was accompanied by US Ambassador in Pakistan Richord G. Olson and US Acting Assistant Secretary of Defence Dr Peter Lavoy.
The visit came as Hagel s deputies withdrew Sunday s statement that said NATO shipments out of Afghanistan through Pakistan were to resume due to the end of anti-drone protests.
In recent weeks, activists opposed to the drone raids forcibly searched trucks in northwest Pakistan in a campaign to disrupt NATO supply routes through the Torkham gate border crossing.
The club-wielding protesters have prompted US officials to halt the shipments to protect the safety of truck drivers ferrying NATO equipment.
Contractors were still concerned over anti-drone protests and the suspension had not been lifted, officials travelling with Hagel said.
Torkham gate is the main overland route used by the Americans and NATO to withdraw military hardware from Afghanistan as part of the troop pullout set to wrap up by the end of 2014.
President Barack Obama has defended the drone strikes as an effective, lawful tool used with restraint to target suspected Al-Qaeda militants.
But human rights groups and Pakistani politicians say the missile attacks have killed innocent civilians and must stop.
