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Pakistan's intelligence chief starts U.S. visit: army

Xinhua, February 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

Pakistan's intelligence chief on Wednesday began an official visit to the United States for security talks, the military said.

It is the first visit of Lt. Gen. Rizwan Akhtar to Washington since he assumed office in November.

"The Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence proceeded to USA for an official visit," the army spokesman said.

"During the visit he will meet his counterparts and discuss issues related to intelligence," he said in a statement.

The visit comes just days after Pakistan's Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, visited the U.S. and held security talks with Secretary of State John Kerry.

Kerry expressed the appreciation for Pakistan's "critical" efforts towards peace and security in the region in his talks with Nisar, the state media reported.

The visit of the intelligence chief is seen as crucial amid indications of the beginning of the peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban insurgents. Pakistan's role is believed to be a key in the possible dialogue.

Kerry has also praised Islamabad's efforts for peace in Afghanistan in meeting with the Pakistani interior minister.

"We are witnessing an unprecedented level of effort to try to produce cooperation in Afghanistan. And thus far, there are some signs of real results with respect to that. And we're grateful for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's commitment to this, for (Army Chief) General Raheel's efforts. They've been real," Kerry said.

The army chief visited the U.S. in November. Endi