Nato Committee meeting underway

BRUSSELS: The meeting of top military commanders from 63 nations is currently underway at the Nato’s headquarters in Brussels, Geo News reported Wednesday. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani is at the Brussels meeting of army chiefs of different countries at the special invitation of NATO Military Committee Chairman Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola. Together with the Chiefs of Defence of all 28 NATO member states, 35 Chiefs of Defence of Partner countries and Troop Contributing Nations are also present at NATO's Military Committee conference. That is, top military commanders from 63 nations - almost a third of the world's 192 countries - gathered at NATO Headquarters to discuss the next phase of the expanding war in South Asia and the bloc's new Strategic Concept. Among those who are attending the two-day Military Committee meeting are General Stanley McChrystal, in charge of all U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan; Admiral James Stavridis, chief U.S. military commander in Europe and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander; Pakistani Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Israeli Chief of General Staff Gabi Ashkenazi. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the military committee is the highest forum of NATO, which meets regularly to discuss various strategic issues. Kayani during his two-day visit will present Pakistan’s perspective on the security situation in the region and will also emphasise the need for a comprehensive approach to deal with the complex security situation. Kayani also held meeting with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to discuss matters of mutual interest and briefed the latter on South Waziristan Agency operation. Nato Secretary General lauded the efforts of Pakistan against terrorism. Former American secretary of state Madeleine Albright has been invited to speak about the Strategic Concept on behalf of the twelve-member Group of Experts she heads, whose task it is to promote NATO's 21st century global doctrine.