Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa is in the United States on a five-day trip in yet another sign of stepped up efforts by both the sides to improve their fraught and difficult relations. Though the military’s media wing is tight-lipped over the visit, sources told Gen Bajwa was accompanied by a high-powered delegation.
The army chief is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with the US officials. The trip includes a visit to the Pentagon and Langley, the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). His visit is being closely followed as some have linked it with the expected change of command.
There are speculations that his visit may mean that the government may extend his already extended tenure. Sources in Washington are playing down such speculations and insisted the visit has nothing to do with the Pakistani domestic situation.
Gen Bajwa arrived in New York on Friday after flying from London on his official plane with senior advisors.
He was expected to arrive in Washington over the weekend, and official meetings have been scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
He will meet with members of various think tanks and other intellectuals interested in Pakistan politics on Wednesday.
While the army commander has maintained tight communication with US authorities in recent years. His most recent official visit to the US was in 2019, when he accompanied then-prime leader Imran Khan on a three-day tour to Washington.
