- COAS will leave once his term as army chief ends.
- Diplomacy, according to Gen. Bajwa, is impossible without a strong economy.
- The COAS meets with Lloyd Austin, Jacob Sullivan, and Wendy Sherman, the US deputy secretary of state and defence secretary, respectively.
According to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the armed forces have withdrawn from politics and would continue to do so.
The army general made the statements during his address at a luncheon hosted by the Pakistani embassy in Washington.
Furthermore, Gen. Bajwa reiterated his desire to stand down when his term as army chief ends in November.
Diplomacy, according to the army chief, is impossible without a strong economy. He said that the nation cannot achieve its objectives without a strong economy.
According to Gen. Bajwa, every stakeholder in society should prioritise repairing the nation’s faltering economy.
Gen. Bajwa Meets With US Officials To Discuss Regional Security
The COAS met with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, National Security Advisor Jacob Sullivan, and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin while in the United States.
According to the ISPR, the talks addressed subjects of mutual interest, the situation of regional security, and bilateral collaboration in a variety of fields.
General Bajwa also stressed to US officials the necessity of Pakistan’s foreign partners in “rescuing and rehabilitating” flood victims. He also thanked the US administration for assisting Pakistan during the floods.
Both sides appreciated Pakistan and the United States’ long history of bilateral cooperation and agreed that both countries should continue to deepen their economic and commercial relations while also pursuing investment prospects.
General Bajwa also conveyed his great regret for the deaths and devastation inflicted by Hurricane Ian in the US state of Florida, according to the statement. “Pakistan truly understands the loss and anguish of families,” the statement stated, “since the country itself is witnessing major impacts of climate change.”
“Both sides had agreement on important international concerns, especially Afghanistan, and the importance of cooperating to avert humanitarian catastrophes and strengthen peace and security in the region,” according to the statement.
Austin’s discussion with the army chief took place “around the 75th anniversary of relations between the United States and Pakistan,” according to a readout from the US Department of Defense.
According to the readout, this long-standing relationship is still going strong, with discussions centred on how to solve crucial shared military problems.
General Bajwa began the second leg of his US visit yesterday by meeting with high-ranking officials of the Biden administration.
On September 30, the army commander arrived in the United States and met with UN authorities in New York.
General Bajwa, according to diplomatic sources, is heading a party that will stay in the United States for a few more days. They described the visit as crucial and indicative of the two countries’ “solid connections.”
