New Delhi: Basic Michael Kurilla, Chief of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), has been awarded Pakistan’s prestigious Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Navy) by President Asif Ali Zardari. The honour comes simply over a month after Kurilla praised Pakistan as a “phenomenal accomplice” within the combat towards terrorism.
Based on Radio Pakistan, the nationwide public broadcaster, the award recognises Basic Kurilla’s “excellent contributions to regional safety” and his devoted efforts to strengthen strategic defence ties between the US and Pakistan.
Throughout his official go to to the nation, Kurilla was obtained with a Tri-Providers Guard of Honour, the broadcaster reported.
The Pakistan authorities acknowledged that the honour acknowledged Kurilla’s key position in “deepening counterterrorism cooperation” between the Pakistan Armed Forces and CENTCOM. It additionally famous the final’s appreciation of Pakistan’s position in “selling peace and stability” within the area.
Kurilla’s remarks in June, the place he described Pakistan as a “phenomenal accomplice within the counter-terrorism world,” got here at a time when India was actively engaged on the worldwide stage to spotlight Pakistan’s alleged help for terrorism. Kurilla additionally emphasised the significance of US relations with each India and Pakistan, stating, “I don’t consider it’s a binary change that we are able to’t have one with Pakistan if we have now a relationship with India.”
India strongly opposed the final’s feedback, pointing to a number of incidents, together with the latest Pahalgam terror assault, the 2008 Mumbai assaults, and Pakistan’s harbouring of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad. India’s Ministry of Exterior Affairs responded by saying, “See the document of Pakistan, of what Pakistan truly is, it is vitally clear. Everyone knows the Pahalgam assault is just a latest instance of cross-border terrorism.”
The honour bestowed upon Basic Kurilla additionally coincided with Pakistani International Minister Ishaq Dar’s official go to to Washington. Whereas within the US, Dar met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The 2 mentioned strengthening bilateral commerce, and Rubio expressed appreciation for “Pakistan’s partnership in countering terrorism and preserving regional stability.”