General Bajwa in US to meet key officials of Biden administration

Washington, Oct 2 Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa arrived in the US for nearly weeklong visit, which included meetings with senior officials of the Biden administration, state media reported.

"Yes, he is here," said Pak­is­tan's Ambassador Sardar Masood Khan, when journalists asked him for information about the Army Chief's visit, Dawn reported.

While the envoy refra­ined from sharing the Chief's itinerary, other sources said General Bajwa was expected to meet Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, National Intelligence Direc­tor Avril D. Haines and CIA Director William J. Burns, Dawn reported.

Pakistani officials are also trying to secure a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"It is very likely, but not confirmed yet," a source said.

General Bajwa landed at LaGuardia in New York on Friday, flying from London on his official plane along with his senior aides. He was expected to arrive in Washington over the weekend, and Monday and Tues­day have been set aside for official meetings.

On Wedn­e­s­day, the Pakistan Army Chief will meet members of various think-tanks and other scholars interested in Pakistan affairs.

While General Bajwa has kept in close contact with US officials over the past few years, his last official visit to the US came in 2019, when he accompanied the then-Prime Minister Imran Khan on a three-day trip to Wash­ing­ton.