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General Petraeus arrives in Pakistan
The U.S. commander running the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, arrived in Pakistan on Sunday for talks with government and military officials, a U.S. embassy spokesman said. His visit to Pakistan, his first foreign tour since taking charge of U.S. Central Command on Friday, highlights growing concern in the United States about a country seen as crucial to bringing stability to neighboring Afghanistan and defeating al Qaeda. Analysts in the United States say nuclear-armed Pakistan is facing a major threat from Islamist militants at a time when the country and its new civilian government are engulfed in extraordinarily difficult economic problems. Petraeus is being accompanied by Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Richard Boucher. "They are here for previously scheduled meetings with government and military officials," said U.S. embassy spokesman Lou Fintor. The Defense Ministry said the two Americans would meet Defense Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar on Monday. Petraeus is also due to meet Pakistan' army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, a military spokesman said. Officials have not confirmed talks with President Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Posted by: ryuge 2008-11-02 |
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