Pakistan army chief to attend NATO military conference

Pakistan Army Chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, left for Spain on Wednesday on an official visit to attend NATO chiefs of defence meeting, the army said. NATO says that the Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the 28 Nations of the Alliance will be hosted by the Spanish Chief of Defence, Air Force General Julio Rodríguez. A Pakistan army statement said that during visit, General Kayani will meet senior military leadership of Spain and other NATO countries. He will also deliver talk to the chiefs of defence of NATO countries on Pakistan army’s efforts in global war on terror. NATO said on its website that in addition to discussing future operational and transformational challenges attention will be given to the evolution of NATO’s operation (ISAF) in Afghanistan and to regional security. Gen. Kayani, Chief of the Pakistani Army Staff will join the Military Committee, while ISAF Commander Gen. Allen and NATO’s Senior Civilian Representative, Ambassador Gass, will participate in discussions by video-conference, it said. The meeting will also examine lessons learned from Operation Unified Protector in Libya and potential strategic implications for the Alliance and the global security landscape in the aftermath of the “Arab Spring”.