US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin will host an enhanced honor cordon on Tuesday for Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa when he arrives at the Pentagon for an official meeting.
According to the details by the US Department of Defence, the US Secretary of Defence will welcome COAS Bajwa to the Pentagon on the steps of the River Entrance. Journalists covering the event have to go through a strict security screening. COAS Bajwa received an honor cordon by the Pentagon in 2019 as well.
Pertinent to mention that an enhanced honor cordon is reserved for the US president, vice president, statutory appointees, general or flag officers of the US military, foreign dignitaries occupying positions comparable to these US officials, and for occasions in which such ceremonies promote international goodwill.
Read more: COAS Bajwa awarded “Order of the Union Medal” by UAE
Interestingly, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also received an enhanced honor cordon when he visited the Pentagon in April this year for bilateral talks with his American counterpart.
COAS Bajwa in US
COAS Bajwa is on a weeklong visit to the US and is scheduled to meet defense and intelligence chiefs. The army chief’s visit to the US was long due and was rescheduled at least thrice in the last year
According to reports, DG ISI, Chief of the General Staff, and DG Military Operations are also accompanying the army chief, who reached New York on Friday.
Read more: COAS Bajwa to attend UK military’s passing out parade as chief guest
During the first phase of the trip, COAS Bajwa met United Nations Military Adviser Gen Birame Diop and discussed diverse matters, including the overall regional security.
Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa met UN Military Adviser Gen Birame Diop during his ongoing visit to the US and discussed diverse matters, including the overall regional security, the military's public affairs wing said in a statement on Sunday pic.twitter.com/eLY69AQlwk
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) October 3, 2022
The trip is an important one as it portrays the “robust relations” between the two countries. The US-Pakistan relations were diversifying, however, the defense and security ties had always been stronger since Pakistan and its military was instrumental in assisting the US in efforts to evacuate people from Afghanistan last year post-Taliban takeover.