Sada-e-Watan Sydney
Sadaewatan@gmail.com

The COAS General Raheel Sharif  has arrived back in Rawalpindi from successful official visit of Australia

The Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has today departed Australia after a counterpart visit from 3 to 8 August hosted by the Chief of Army Lieutenant General David Morrison, AO. Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff General  Raheel Sharif has arrived in Rawalpindi after completion of  four-day official visit of Australia. During the visit, General Raheel met the Australian Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of General Staff, Federal Defence Minister, Secretary Defence, Secretary Foreign affairs and other high-ranking officials. General Raheel Sharif, COAS attended  a round table discussion hosted by vice chief of defence forces, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs along with Australian services chiefs and high ranking officials of ministry of defence. Matters concerning regional security, Pakistan's role and contributions in fighting terrorism and need for enhanced bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries were discussed. Pakistan's experiences in combating terrorism, and its Expertise in Countering Improvised Explosive devices were widely discussed and acknowledged. This was the first visit to Australia by a Pakistani four-star General since November 2012.  

General Raheel met with the Secretary of Defen ce Dennis Richardson, Vice Chief of the Defence Force Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, AO CSC RAN and other senior Defence and government officials in Canberra, and visited operational units in Brisbane and Sydney. Lt.General Morrison said the visit affirmed the importance of the bilateral defence relationship to both sides.  

“As longstanding friends, Australia and Pakistan look forward to continuing to work together, through exercises, senior visits and strategic dialogues, as well as through military training,” Lt.General Morrison said.  

These meetings provided the opportunity to exchange perspectives on shared security issues – in particular the future of Afghanistan and Pakistan’s efforts to counter militant extremism, notably through the Pakistan military’s current operation against terrorists in North Waziristan.  

Earlier on his arrival at Army Headquarters, Guard of Honour was presented to COAS. General Raheel Sharif was also the guest of honour at a banquet hosted by Lieutenant General David Morrison, Australian Army Chief.

On Friday, 8th August 2014,General Raheel also took part in a working lunch at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. General Raheel warmly thanked the Army for its hospitality and excellent visit program, expressing his hope that Australian defence personnel would visit Pakistan in the near future.