Army Chief Rawat on maiden US visit from today

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat will be visiting the US on April 1 to hold a discussion over further strengthening the cooperation to counter Pak-sponsored terrorism. The Army Chief is also scheduled to visit the American Army War College hall of fame as he had done a course there earlier.

New Delhi: Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat will be on a five-day maiden visit to the US, starting on Monday, where he is expected to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation between the two countries to tackle Pakistan aided terrorist activities in the region.

During the visit, the Army Chief is also scheduled to be inducted into the American Army War College hall of fame as he had done a course there earlier.

"The Army Chief will begin his five days starting tomorrow (Monday) where he will meet his American counterpart and hold important discussions on counterterrorism cooperation with the US," Army officials said.

During the visit, the Army chief is also expected to discuss the direct support by Pakistan to terrorist activities in India and aiding and funding of terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba, which openly call for carrying out Islamic terrorism against India in the name of jihad.

Earlier this month after India's aerial strikes in Balakot to avenge the death of 40 CRPF personnel in Pulwama, American Special Forces Commander Gen Raymond Thomas had met Rawat in South Block and discussed regional security and Pakistan's continued support to terrorism.

"Both the Generals deliberated on the developing regional security environment, issue of global terrorism and Pakistan's continued support to terrorism was also discussed," the Army had stated after the meeting.

In the recent times, the American administration, especially President Donald Trump, has been very vocal in exposing Pakistan's direct support to terrorism in the AfPak region and not doing much to take action against terror outfits such as the Jaish and Haqqani network operating in Afghanistan.