The Chief of the General Staff and Head of the British Army, General Sir Nicholas Carter visited Pakistan to reinforce the close military relationship between Pakistan and the UK. "General Carter and his wife Lady Carter were the personal guests of General Raheel Sharif, the Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan," said a press statement issued by the British High Commission here on Wednesday. This is the fourth time General Raheel and General Carter have met in the last two years.
According to the statement, General Carter and General Sharif discussed Pakistan-UK military cooperation, the recent action taken by Pakistan's military to bring security to Pakistan, and regional security. General Carter also visited the Army Museum in Rawalpindi and presented the First World War Centenary Fund Victoria Cross Plaque, a gift from the British people, which names the First World War Victoria Cross winners from what is now Pakistan.
"General Carter, at the GHQ dinner, spoke of his deep respect for the Pakistan Army's achievements in combating terrorism and paid tribute to the soldiers and officers who have lost their lives," according to the statement. The British and Pakistan Armies had strong historical ties and General Carter looked forward to further developing the cooperation between the Armies during his time as head of the British Army, it added.
Accompanied by General Raheel Sharif, General Sir Nick also laid a wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada (the Martyr's Monument) in front of a guard of honour. General Raheel Sharif hosted a dinner at GHQ for General and Lady Carter, accompanied by GHQ's senior generals and their wives, and on Wednesday the generals and their wives had a private lunch together.
Accompanied by Thomas Drew, the British High Commissioner, and Brigadier Murray Whiteside, the British Defence Adviser, General Carter also met with the Minister of Defence Khawaja Asif, Secretary of Defence Lieutenant General Alam Khattak (Retd), the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Committee General Rashad Mahood, and the National Security Adviser, Lieutenant General Naseer Khan Janjua (Retd). The statement further said that General Carter also addressed the National Security and War Course, Pakistan's senior military course at the National Defence University in Islamabad and gave them a British view on the strategic context, the character of conflict and the implications for the British Army.