Pak army chief arrives in Sri Lanka for three-day visit

Daily Mirror
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Pakistani Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani accompanied by his spouse Ms. Zahida Kayani arrived yesterday in a special flight on a three day visit.

He was received at the Bandaranaike International Airport Colombo by Army Commander Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya and his spouse.

The visit of Pakistan’s Army Chief is highly significant as it is the first visit of Pakistan’s Army Chief to Sri Lanka following the defeat of LTTE in 2009. During his visit General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is expected to meet the top leadership of the country including the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Secretary Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and the three Services Commanders. General Kayani is also expected to address the student officers at the Sri Lankan Defence Services Command and Staff College, the media release said.

It said:

“General Kayani will also be formally inaugurating the Sri Lanka Chapter of The Quetta Association which comprises the Sri Lankan graduate officers of the Command and Staff College Quetta Pakistan. The Command and Staff College Quetta is the oldest training institution of Pakistan Army and it was established in 1905. Sri Lanka will have the privilege of being the first country in the world where Quetta Association will be launched. The total member of the Quetta Association in Sri Lanka is 42, who hold highly significant assignments in their respective institutions.

“The Quetta Association is a non-governmental, non-political, non-religious, non-ethnic, non racial and non-profitable organization. It provides a platform of interaction to the Graduates of the Command and Staff College Quetta and provides them an opportunity for intellectual exchange of current developments in the region with particular focus on Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

“The Quetta Association will operate as a dynamic forum for both the Defence forces to identify common threats and evolve common strategies to face current regional and global threats and challenges. The scope of the Quetta Association will be gradually enhanced to also engage Ex graduates of the other premier Defence institution of Pakistan like National Defence University, School of Infantry and Tactics, Air War College, Naval Staff College, etc.”

© Daily Mirror