DUSHANBE, March 2, 2016, Asia-Plus – Tajik President Emomali Rahmon yesterday afternoon received visiting Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army, General Raheel Sharif.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, they discussed a broad range of issues related to military and political cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan.  

Tajik president reportedly noted that Tajikistan was satisfied with the current level of military cooperation with Pakistan, which was based on mutual interests and mutual respect.

The sides exchanged views on state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral political and military cooperation between the two countries, underlining the significance of cooperation between the national armies and the law enforcement agencies of Tajikistan and Pakistan in addressing modern challenges and threats, including terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking.

In the course of the talks, Rahmon and Sharif also discussed a number of regional and international issues being of mutual interest.

According to the Tajik MFA information department, General Raheel Sharif arrived in Dushanbe on February 29 on a three-day visit.

General Raheel Sharif is a four-star rank army general.  He has served as 15th Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army, since 2013.

The Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army is the four-star rank appointment in the Pakistan Army, held by the senior four-star rank officer appointed by the President of Pakistan, on a summary sent by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.  The appointment is in principle for three years subject to extensions granted by the President of Pakistan on recommendation from The Prime Minister of Pakistan.  The appointment is vested with complete operational, training and logistics commands.