CoAS Kayani, Colin Powell meet in Washington

WASHINGTON: Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Perveiz Kayani and US former Secretary of State Colin Powell held one-on-one meeting here, Geo News reported.

In another meeting, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar called on former US Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage and former US Defense Secretary William Cohen.

CoAS Kayani and Colin Powell held one-to-one meeting, sources said. Matters pertaining to peace and stability in the region and security situation came under discussions.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar discussed issues of mutual interests during meeting with Richard Armitage and Willem Cohen.

Former US Deputy Secretary Armitage said the pace of aid being released to Pakistan, he termed ‘slow and too little’, adding that peace and stability cannot guarantee in Afghanistan excluding Pakistan.

“US-Afghanistan cannot come up with any peaceful solution to Afghan unrest excluding Pakistan”, he noted.

Former US Defense Secretary William Cohen urged Pakistan to step up offensive against Taliban-linked Haqqani Group in Pakistan.

Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar said US has blocked Pakistan’s Alliance Support Fund and the cost of military equipments meant for enhancing Pakistan’s military competence is beyond affordability.

A reception in honour of Pakistan’s delegation comprising top military and civilian brass, was hosted at the residence of Pakistan’s ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani here in Washington.

Key officials from US’s State Department and newly designated US’s envoy to Pakistan Cameron Minthor also attended the reception.