US, Pakistan Have Long History Of Defence Cooperation: US Def Secy Austin

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Pakistan's new Army Chief Gen Syed Asim Munir to discuss areas of mutual interest and recent regional developments.

Austin called General Munir on Friday to congratulate him on his appointment as Pakistan Army chief. Both discussed areas of mutual interest and recent regional developments, according to a Pentagon readout of the talk.

“I had the opportunity today to congratulate General Asim Munir, Pakistan's newly appointed Chief of Army Staff,” Austin tweeted following the call.

“The United States and Pakistan have a long history of defence cooperation, and I am excited to work with General Munir,” he said in a tweet.

On Thursday, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Mark Milley spoke by phone with Gen Munir and discussed the current security situation in Pakistan and the region.

On the phone call, Gen Milley also congratulated Gen Munir on his new role as Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, which comes a day after a deadly terrorist attack in Kabul that killed at least five people near the Foreign Ministry.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the Kabul bombing.