The second round of US-Pakistan mid-level defence dialogue begins in Washington on Monday (today) to consider various options for strengthening ties between the two establishments.
The Pakistani team, headed by the Chief of General Staff (CGS), Lt Gen Mohammed Saeed, reached the US capital on Sunday afternoon. The delegation includes two major generals, two brigadiers and a civilian representative, the Additional Secretary for Americas Muhammad Mudassir Tipu from the foreign affairs ministry.
They will interact with their counterparts at the US Defence Department, which is also known as the Pentagon.
The CGS heads the second most influential office in the Pakistan Army after the Chief of Army Staff. He is the administrative head of both intelligence and operational forces.
The agenda for the four-day (Feb 13–16) talks includes expanding coordination on strategic issues between the two defence establishments.
The foreign affairs ministry in Islamabad said in a press release that the Pakistani delegation included representatives from the Joint Staff Headquarters and the three services headquarters.
The US multi-agency team will be represented by the Office of the Undersecretary of Defence.
“Issues of bilateral defence and security cooperation will be discussed during the defence dialogue,” the ministry said. The first round of the dialogue was held in Pakistan in Jan 2021.
The two military establishments have maintained close ties despite disagreements on political issues. On Jan 13, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke by phone with the new Chief of Army Staff, Gen Asim Munir, congratulated him on his appointment and discussed “areas of mutual interest as well as recent regional developments” with him, said a Pentagon statement issued after the call.
