General James Mattis departs Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD, March 30, 2012 (Frontier Star): General James Mattis, Commander of U.S. Central Command, departed Pakistan Thursday after a series of meetings with senior Pakistani leaders to discuss a wide-range of security issues. While here, he and General John Allen, Commander of NATOs International Security Assistance Force, discussed with Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and other senior military officials the activities of militant network and ways to improve cross-border cooperation, a statement from the US embassy said. General Mattis acknowledged the sacrifices made by the Pakistani military in their fight against violent extremists, and offered his condolences for Pakistani military personnel who have fallen in support of that cause. This was the first visit by a senior U.S. military official since last winter. General Mattis and General Allen were grateful for the time afforded by their Pakistani counterparts and reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Pakistani security relationship - not only to ongoing operations in Afghanistan but also to regional stability.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)