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US Defense Delegation Travels to Pakistan Next Week

Natalie Liu

   WASHINGTON - A high-level U.S. defense delegation is scheduled to visit
   Pakistan and Afghanistan next week. Randall Schriver, Assistant
   Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, made the
   announcement Thursday evening at the Pakistani embassy in Washington.
   Schriver, appointed to his current position by President Donald Trump
   in January 2018, attended the embassy's annual celebration of
   Pakistan's Defense Day.
   Shriver said his intent "and our team's intent, is to be aspirational,"
   saying the parties will be "talking about where we can go in the
   future, how we can strengthen and improve cooperation, all the
   challenges notwithstanding."
   Shriver cited Pakistan's contribution in several of the U.S.-led
   security initiatives, citing "the very important work in trying to
   achieve peace in Afghanistan," as well as Pakistan's participation in a
   maritime security initiative known as Combined Task Force 150, a
   multi-nation effort led by the United States designed to "deter,
   disrupt and defeat attempts by international terrorist organizations"
   that seek to use the maritime domain as venues for attack or as a means
   to transport personnel, weapons and other materials. CTF 150 is based
   in Bahrain.

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