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Press Release | March 22, 2010

Pakistan Chief of Army Staff visits CENTCOM headquarters

By None , U.S. Central Command 

            
Gen. David H. Petraeus and Pakistani Gen. Ashfaq Kayani watch the Blue Angels perform during MacDill Air Force Base’s annual Air Fest.
Gen. David H. Petraeus and Pakistani Gen. Ashfaq Kayani watch the Blue Angels perform during MacDill Air Force Base’s annual Air Fest.
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (Mar. 22, 2010) – Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, met with U.S. Central Command Commander, Gen. David Petraeus here this weekend to reaffirm the strategic partnership between Pakistan and the United States.  
Gen. Petraeus and Gen. Kayani discussed ways to advance cooperation and collaboration in countering extremist violence in Afghanistan, as well as U.S. support for Pakistan’s struggle against violent extremists at home. 
  
Gen. Ashfaq Kayani thanks members of the Blue Angels with his commander’s coin after the pilots performed at the MacDill Air Fest Sunday. 
Gen. Ashfaq Kayani thanks members of the Blue Angels with his commander’s coin after the pilots performed at the MacDill Air Fest Sunday. 
On Afghanistan, they discussed improvements in coordination between Pakistan’s military and U.S. forces in Eastern Afghanistan. Petraeus commended Kayani on Pakistan’s hard-fought gains against the Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the Swat valley, as well as the Pakistani military’s impressive counter-insurgency campaign. During his own visit to Pakistan last month, the CENTCOM Commander traveled to Swat and has since noted the strides Pakistan has taken in that region.  
  
Gen. David H. Petraeus and Pakistani Gen. Ashfaq Kayani pose with the Blue Angels after the MacDill Air Fest Sunday.
Gen. David H. Petraeus and Pakistani Gen. Ashfaq Kayani pose with the Blue Angels after the MacDill Air Fest Sunday.
Gen. Kayani also met with Special Operations Command Commander, Adm. Eric Olson, and watched the U.S. Navy “Blue Angels” flight demonstration team at the MacDill Air Fest Sunday.  Kayani attended further meetings at the CENTCOM headquarters this morning, and departed MacDill Air Force Base today.