Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and US Defense Secretary Lloyd James Austin III discussed a host of issues including the South Asian security situation, developments in the Afghan Peace Process, and bilateral cooperation in various fields during a telephonic conversation.

They also deliberated upon matters of mutual interest, Daily Pakistan reported.

Austin appreciated Pakistan’s  support for Afghanistan peace negotiations and expressed his keenness to continue to build on the US Pakistan bilateral relationship.

Earlier, Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Affairs David F. Helvey told the US Senate Armed Services Committee that Pakistan has allowed the US military to use its airspace and given ground access so that it can support its presence in Afghanistan.

Following the speculation Pakistan on Monday clarified that there are no US military bases in the country and neither is it considering any such proposal.

(SAM)