The US defence secretary had landed at an air force base in Rawalpindi after arriving in Islamabad for a day-long trip — his first visit since taking charge of the Pentagon. Earlier in the day, Mattis called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at the Prime Minister’s House, Islamabad. Upon arrival at the PM’s House, Mattis was received by the prime minister himself. The prime minister was assisted by Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal as well as senior officials from the respective ministries. Recalling the longstanding relationship with the United States, the prime minister underlined the need for a broad-based engagement to strengthen [Pak-US] partnership and enhanced cooperation between the two countries.

Source: Pakistan Today December 04, 2017 19:52 UTC