London, Sept. 30 : Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has held a detailed meeting with his British counterpart Chief of the Defence Staff of the British Armed Forces, General Sir Nicholas Houghton to brief him about the ongoing tense situation on country’s eastern and western borders.
According to the sources, during the meeting, already scheduled in visiting general’s line-up engagements, diversified matters of mutual interest, regional security and defence cooperation were discussed.
According to sources, the tense and volatile situation at the eastern and western borders of Pakistan was the main topics of the discussion and General Raheel explained the situation from his country’s perspective.
Earlier, the army chief addressed CENTCOM Asia Security Conference in Munich, Germany.
“Interference from India on eastern border and Afghan incursions at western border were explained to British general in details. If this problematic situation will continue, there would be no guarantee of peace and stability in the region”, General Raheel stated.
“Pakistan wants peaceful relations with all countries especially with neighbours and particularly with India and Afghanistan but unfortunately, due to unfair and uncalled interferences and skirmishes at the borders, our genuine wishes would not be materialised”, the sources said quoting General Raheel.
The sources hinted that these talks were held in the backdrop of reports coming from Afghanistan that Afghan Taliban seized Kunduz city, the country took to calling on Pakistan to crack down on extremists carrying out cross-border attacks, claiming that some of the Kunduz raiders came from across the border.
General Raheel said practical steps are required to manage the porous border for gainful conclusion of military operation the country has been carrying out against all militants without any discrimination.
Both Pakistan and Afghanistan have long been accusing each other of harbouring militants who launch attacks from their bases in one country into the other.
Afghanistan has been particularity accusing Pakistan of giving space to Haqqani network. But Islamabad says its Zarb-e-Azb military operation is against all militants and it has already destroyed most of their sanctuaries.
This is the second visit of Gen Raheel to Britain this year.
General Raheel’s visit was also an opportunity for the UK to express its support in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks on an army school in Peshawar. (ANI)