WASHINGTON: On Friday, US Central Command (Centcom) commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla held a video conference call with Pakistan’s newly appointed army chief, Gen. Syed Asim Munir. During the call, the two military leaders discussed expanding security cooperation between Pakistan and the United States.
According to a brief statement released by the Centcom headquarters in Tampa, Florida, Gen. Kurilla spoke via video teleconference with Gen. Munir, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) who took over for Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa on Nov. 29.
The two generals “have a previously established relationship from Gen Kurilla’s time as Centcom Chief of Staff,” according to the statement.
“The two leaders discussed US-Pakistan security cooperation efforts and strengthening the bilateral relationship,” it added. Gen. Kurilla congratulated Gen. Munir on his new position.
On November 29, when Dawn asked one of its spokespersons to comment on the Pakistani change of command and its potential impact on bilateral relations, the US State Department issued a similarly brief statement.
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The relationship between Pakistan and the United States has been crucial for 75 years. The spokesperson stated, “The United States looks forward to continuing our partnership with Pakistan to promote stability and prosperity for the people of Pakistan and the region.”
However, according to the State Department, “the selection of senior military leaders is an internal matter in Pakistan. “If you have any more questions, I can direct you to the Pakistani government.
The two main aspects of the relationship between the two countries—”security cooperation” and the desire to continue this cooperation—are covered in the brief statements.
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The notes also show that Washington is willing to respect the Pakistani military’s desire to steer clear of politics and avoid bringing up political topics like Afghanistan.
Lisa Curtis, a former White House staffer, told a seminar in Washington last week that the United States closely monitors the change of command in Pakistan because it is aware that the military has a significant impact on decision-making. Ms. Curtis stated, “More important than who will be the PM in Pakistan is who will be the chief of army staff. I don’t think the future of US-Pakistan relations depends on that.”
