ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa is expected to visit the United States soon, the local media reported on Tuesday, adding the two countries were trying to finalize the exact dates of the planned trip to Washington.
The US and Pakistan closely cooperated with each other during the Cold War, particularly in the fields of defense and security.
However, the recent conflict in Afghanistan significantly strained their ties which hit a new low after former prime minister Imran Khan said his administration was brought down by the administration in Washington with the help of his political rivals since he was trying to pursue an “independent foreign policy.”
His allegations have been repeatedly denied by US officials.
Quoting diplomatic sources, Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper said Bajwa’s visit was likely to take place “in late August or early September.”
“A date will soon be finalized,” the publication said in a story filed from Washington.
The report also quoted State Department Spokesperson Ned Price who recently noted the US was engaged “with a range of stakeholders in Pakistan, (including) those currently in the government” and with “a broad array of others.”
Last month, Pakistan’s army chief called US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman to seek American help in securing early disbursement of funds from the International Monetary Fund.
The reports about the call were confirmed by officials in the two countries, though it was criticized by most media houses in Pakistan.
Dawn said that diplomatic circles and think tank experts said the two countries had been trying to arrange the visit for more than a year now.
They also maintained a number of recent developments concerning the two countries were expected to come up for discussion during Bajwa’s visit to Washington.
