US and Central Asian Defense Chiefs Meet in Islamabad for Regional Security Talks

Pakistan hosted a regional defense conference with officials from the United States and four Central Asian republics to discuss military cooperation and counterterrorism coordination. The conference marked the first multilateral defense engagement hosted by Pakistan, with participation from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Many of these states share borders with or are close to Afghanistan, facing challenges like militant violence and regional instability.

Pakistan, with a porous frontier with Afghanistan, emphasized the need for deeper security cooperation post the Afghan conflict. The Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan highlighted the importance of military-to-military cooperation and mutual trust in addressing transnational threats. The conference aimed at strengthening regional security partnerships, enhancing joint training, and improving crisis response mechanisms.

Delegates discussed evolving threats in South and Central Asia, sovereignty concerns, and military diplomacy. They reaffirmed their commitment to peace, national sovereignty, and addressing challenges like militant violence and cyber insecurity. Pakistan's role in convening the meeting was praised, along with its efforts in promoting regional defense diplomacy.

According to the source: Arab News.