Web Desk
The CIA director William Joseph Burns has met Pakistan’s top military officials to discuss the evolving situation since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in mid-August.
US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Burns held meetings with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and the Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Faiz Hameed in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
The officials discussed “matters of mutual interest, regional security situation and current situation in Afghanistan,” the statement issued by media wing of Pakistan military said. Pakistan “remains committed to cooperate with its international partners for peace in the region and ensuring a stable and prosperous future for Afghan people,” the ISPR statement said.
The American spy agency chief appreciated Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan situation including successful evacuation operations and efforts for regional stability. He pledged increased diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels.
The meeting comes after the Taliban announced its interim government in Afghanistan. Burns, a former diplomat and back-channel negotiator, reportedly held secret meetings in late August with Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban leader who is now the acting deputy prime minister of Afghanistan, Gulf News reported.
Earlier on August 27, Richard Moore, head of UK’s foreign intelligence agency MI6, met Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen Bajwa to discuss intelligence and defence collaboration and overall regional security.
Foreign ministers of the UK, Germany, Italy and Netherlands have also visited Pakistan in the first week of September to discuss the way forward and collaboration on Afghanistan situation.
