ISLAMABAD   -  Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited the headquarters of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on Monday. 

Director General ISI Lieutenant General Faiz Hamid received the Army Chief on his arrival at the Headquarters of country’s premier intelligence agency, says press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate.

COAS was briefed on the internal security and ongoing situation in Afghanistan, the military’s media wing said. The Army Chief expressed his satisfaction over the preparedness of organisation.

Monday’s visit of the Army Chief comes at a time when the federal government is yet to issue the notification for the appointment of the new DG ISI. On October 6, the ISPR had announced that Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum was appointed as the new DG ISI while his predecessor Lt Gen Hamid was posted as Peshawar Corps Commander.   

But Prime Minister’s Office did not issue the notification confirming Lt Gen Anjum’s appointment that led to widespread speculations on the national and social media that perhaps civil and military leadership were not on the same page about this appointment.

On last Saturday, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said that that civil and military leadership had amicably resolved the issue of appointment of DG ISI. He had said that new spymaster would be appointed before next Friday (October 22).

US Charge d’Affaires to Pakistan Ms Angela Aggeler called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Rawalpindi on Monday.

“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, current security situation in Afghanistan and bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed,” says a press statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate following the meeting.

“Pakistan desires to maintain the tradition of bilateral engagement and wishes for an enduring relationship with United States,” the ISPR quoted Army Chief as saying. General Qamar Javed Bajwa also reiterated the need for global convergence on Afghanistan for avoiding humanitarian crisis and coordinated efforts for economic uplift of the Afghan people.

The visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan’s role in Afghan situation, efforts for regional stability and pledged to play their role for further improvement in diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels, according to the military’s media wing.

Last week, the US diplomat held separate meetings with the leadership of opposition parties and she had also called on Speaker Punjab Assembly and acting Governor Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.  Ms Angela also met with former prime minister and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani.

On October 14, she held separate meetings with president Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and vice-president of PML-N Maryam Nawaz in Lahore.