Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday told the UK officials at the Ministry of Defence in London that peace in Afghanistan is a shared interest and Pakistan would continue its positive role and ready to work closely with Afghanistan. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), upon his arrival CoAS General Bajwa was received by UK CGS General Sir Nick Carter and given the guard of honour at the Horse Guards Square.
Later, CoAS had separate meetings with the UK Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan Owen Jenkins and also US Resolute Support Mission (RSM) Commander General John Nicholson. Matters of mutual interest including regional, geopolitical environment with special reference to Afghanistan came under discussion. The UK leadership and RSM Commander appreciated and acknowledged positive role played by Pakistan and Pakistan Army towards peace and stability, ISPR statement said.
General Bajwa said Pak-Afghan bilateral border security mechanism is critically important and both countries need to formulate this on priority. He shared various border control/management measures which Pakistan has undertaken and urged the requirement of similar measures on other side of the border to defeat the common enemy. The statement further said that CoAS also highlighted that CPEC should be viewed as an economic move that aims at fostering inclusive development in the best interest of the region and beyond. CoAS also thanked UK leadership for their assistance during the war on terror.