Pakistan army chief in US for a week

Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharif has arrived in the US on a week-long visit for talks on security and defence issues.

On Monday, he is scheduled to visit the US Central Command (CENTCOM) headquarters in Tampa, Florida, for talks with US military leadership, Radio Pakistan reported.

During his stay, security in Afghanistan is likely to be a major subject of discussion in his meetings with senior US military leaders, including chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, and leaders of the Central Command at a time of growing convergences of views between Pakistan and the US.

The visit comes just two days after the army chief met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani during his Pakistan visit over the weekend.

The US has welcomed the Afghan president's visit to Pakistan.

Gen. Raheel's meetings with his US military leaders are expected to provide an opportunity to enhance bilateral military-to-military cooperation.