Senior U.S. Defense Officials Visit with Gen. Kayani

Pakistani Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani meets with US Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates (left), US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen and US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy on March 22.

March 23, 2010

Islamabad - Pakistan Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, and U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy, at the Pentagon, March 22.  During the meeting, they discussed the ongoing conflict in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas and security challenges that affect the region.

"What we are interested in is looking at the long term the relationship between the United States and Pakistan, how we can strengthen our relationship and how we can help Pakistan in dealing with the security challenges that face them but also face us and NATO as well," said Secretary Gates said during a Pentagon press availability prior to the meeting.

Gen. Kayani is visiting the United States to meet with senior U.S. Defense officials prior to participating in the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue. Earlier this week, Gen. Kayani met with Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. Central Command commander; and Adm. Eric Olson, U.S. Special Operations Command commander, at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla.