WASHINGTON: US Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Tuesday highly praised General Raheel Sharif who retired on Monday and said that he looked forward to working with new Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
“I congratulate, and express my gratitude to, General Raheel Sharif upon his retirement as Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff. General Sharif has been an important partner for the United States in the battle against terrorism,” Senator McCain said in a statement.
He said that since taking office in November, 2013, General Sharif made a concerted effort to target terrorists operating within the borders of Pakistan and has carried the fight to the northwest frontier provinces of Pakistan.
“In doing so, General Sharif has demonstrated that taking action against extremist groups is firmly in the national security interests of Pakistan. I wish General Sharif well as he enters a well-earned retirement. I know he will continue to serve the cause of Pakistan,” he added.
“As we look to the future, Pakistan must demonstrate that the commitment to fighting domestic terrorism is not dependent on a single individual,” he said. “In that spirit, I look forward to working with General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s selection to be the next Chief of Army Staff.”
“And I congratulate Pakistan on carrying out a second consecutive transition of power in the military according to the processes established by the civilian government,” he added.
