Pakistani Chief of Army Staff here today
Pakistani Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
will be on a three day visit to Sri Lanka starting today. The visit of
Pakistan’s Army Chief is highly significant as it is the first visit of
Pakistan’s Army Chief to Sri Lanka following the defeat of LTTE in 2009.
During the three decade long war against the LTTE, Pakistan played a
crucial and decisive role by assisting the Sri Lanka Government and the
Armed Forces.
The visit of Pakistan’s Army Chief provides an opportunity to the two
brotherly countries to exchange expertise and also provide an occasion
to discuss further strengthening of future relationship in the present
context.
Since independence, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have consistently
maintained close, cordial and mutually supportive relations especially
in the field of defence.
Both nations have assisted each other during testing times in their
history.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have comprehensive and mutually beneficial
training collaboration for Army, Navy and Air Force. Over a period of
time, a strong bond of commitment and mutual understanding has been
reached between both the friendly armed forces. In future too, both the
brotherly countries are expected to work more closely in the field of
defence to boost peace efforts in the region.
During his visit General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is expected to meet the
top leadership of the country including the President, Prime Minister,
Foreign Minister, Defence Secretary, Chief of Defence Staff and the
three Services Commanders.
General Kayani is also expected to address the student officers at
the SriLanka Defense Services Command and Staff College. General Ashfaq
Parvez Kayani is Pakistan’s 14th Army Chief.
General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was commissioned in an Infantry
Battalion on August 29, 1971 and joined the famed Baloch Regiment.
He graduated from Command and Staff College (C&SC), Quetta in 1985
and followed a War Course from the National Defence University (NDU),
Islamabad in 1993.
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