Wednesday, June 24, 2009

US security adviser meets army chief

ISLAMABAD: The United States National Security Adviser, Gen James Jones, arrived here on Wednesday to discuss troop surge in Afghanistan and to encourage Pakistan to intensify the military operations against extremists, according to sources.

Gen Jones began his trip to the country with a meeting with Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani after arriving from Kabul.

He will meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday.

Although neither side exchanged any formal agenda, diplomats said the adviser was likely to discuss surge in US troops in Afghanistan, the Swat operation and the possible military offensive in Waziristan.

The adviser and his interlocutors were likely to take forward their discussions on the acquisition of counter-insurgency equipment from the US.

Gen Jones is also expected to discuss the US assistance for displaced people in the NWFP. He is likely to call for resumption of Pakistan-India peace talks when he visits New Delhi on June 25.

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