Army Chief Meets President Alvi & PM Imran On Same-Day

Pakistan’s Military Chief, Gen. Qamar Bajwa, met with the country’s President and PM, in an unusual same-day meeting, on Monday.
Regardless of the meeting being on the sidelines of the apex committee on Afghanistan’s session, it is quite distinctive for an army commander to see both the leaders of state and government in a single day.
The PM Office’s brief announcement on the Khan-Bajwa meeting piqued the interest of political analysts, who wondered what the two leaders may have talked about.

According to the PMO, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Chief of Army Staff, met with Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday. There was a discussion on Pakistan Army-related professional issues during this meeting.

Since their public dispute over the selection of Inter-Services Intelligence director general, press announcements on meetings between the prime minister and army chief have been usual pro forma. Two public meetings have occurred between the two since Oct 26, the day Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum was named the director-general, though they have also attended forums attended by other officials.

According to a statement released by the President house, President Alvi and General Bajwa met to address the recent terrorism occurrences in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

It was reported that Gen. Bajwa briefed President Alvi on the security forces’ efforts to combat terrorists and that he reaffirmed his commitment to “remove militants and miscreants” from the country.

He paid respect to the security troops killed in recent operations against militants in Balochistan and recently amalgamated districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Afghanistan’s most important advisory body

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed optimism at the apex committee meeting that Afghan students studying in Pakistani colleges will contribute to the development of Afghanistan and enhance links between the two neighbouring countries’ peoples, as well. It was also mandated that all necessary resources be made available for the maintenance of scholarship programmes.

The prime minister stated that business-to-business connections and communication initiatives were given high priority by the government and that full facilitation would be provided.

As part of a pledge to support humanitarian projects and obligations made for the Afghan people, he urged Pakistan to help the Pakistani-built hospitals in Afghanistan, as well as the expansion of road and rail links.