President Zardari confers Nishan-e-Imtiaz on US Centcom chief

President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) to General Michael E. Kurilla, Commander of the United States Central Command (Centcom), in recognition of his role in strengthening military cooperation between Pakistan and the United States.

The investiture ceremony took place at Aiwan-e-Sadr, where the president acknowledged General Kurilla’s contributions to regional security and defence collaboration.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the award honours his efforts in promoting mutual understanding and enhancing counterterrorism cooperation between US Centcom and the Pakistan Armed Forces.

The ISPR noted that General Kurilla’s engagements reflect a consistent respect for Pakistan’s role in regional peace and stability. His meetings during the visit included high-level discussions with President Zardari and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. Topics discussed included regional security, military coordination, and responses to transnational threats.

General Kurilla also received a tri-services guard of honour at the President House.

Additionally, the US commander attended the Regional Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference hosted by Pakistan. The conference brought together senior military officials from the US, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan under the theme "Strengthening Bonds, Securing Peace."

Participants discussed regional security trends, joint military training, counterterrorism, and the importance of multilateral cooperation in addressing emerging threats. The conference concluded with a call for sustained defence collaboration, recognizing Pakistan’s role in promoting regional stability.