US defence secretary to visit Pakistan on Dec 3: Khawaja Asif

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday confirmed that US Defence Secretary James Mattis would conduct a one-day visit to the country on December 3. 

Mattis had earlier visited India in September and the Pentagon said the United States views India as a valued and influential partner, with broad mutual interests extending well beyond South Asia.

In 2016, the United States designated India a "Major Defence Partner" and Trump has sought to further boost military ties, praising India for contributing to regional peace and stability and purchasing US military equipment.

The foreign minister also said that two important conferences would be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and would be attended by senior government representatives. 

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa would be attending the conferences. 

The Islamic military alliance, formed by the kingdom earlier, and Pak-Saudi relations would be discussed during the visit.