COAS Gen Munir, US defense secretary Austin discuss ‘regional developments’

Liaquat Ali

Islamabad: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir and US Defense Secretary Lloyd J Austin have discussed “areas of mutual interest as well as recent regional developments”, according to the US Department of Defense.

In a brief statement, the US Defense Department noted that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Munir and US Defense Secretary Austin, during a phone call, discussed “recent regional developments” and “areas of mutual interest” between the two countries.

The Inter-Services Public Relations, Pakistan military’s media wing, has yet to report the development.

Terrorist activities have alarmingly surged in Pakistan, as according to a recent report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an independent think-tank, at least 271 militant attacks took place during the first half of 2023, claiming the lives of 389 people and wounding 656 others.

It may be mentioned here that this is the second time that Gen Munir and the US defense secretary spoke over the telephone.

The first time the Pakistan army chief and the US defense secretary spoke was in January. The US defence secretary had called the Pakistan army chief to congratulate on assuming the charge then.