General Zhao Zongqi congratulates General Qamar Javed Bajwa. (Photo : Pakistan Army)
General Zhao Zongqi, Commanding Officer, Western Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), paid a courtesy call on and congratulated General Qamar Javed Bajwa on the latter's appointment as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Pakistan Army on Nov. 29.
The meeting between two of the top military leaders of both countries, which came a week after Gen. Bajwa took command, illustrates the deep military ties binding China and Pakistan. Gen. Zhao is one of the PLA's top generals since his command is the largest in the armed forces.
The Pakistan Army said both leaders talked about matters related to regional security and professional interest.
Gen. Zhao lauded the Pakistan Army's achievements in the fight against Islamic terrorism along its western border with Afghanistan and its continued efforts towards regional peace and stability.
His command includes the Xinjang Uyghur Autonomous Region, a Muslim majority Chinese province that shares a border with Pakistan and where militants are agitating for independence from China.
On the other hand, Gen Bajwa reaffirmed the army's unwavering support for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor security.
Gen. Zhao's command includes the western provinces of Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang and Chongqing.
The Western Theater Command is the largest of five newly reorganized military regions of the PLA.
Gen. Bajwa became the 16th Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army on Nov. 29. He succeeded Gen. Raheel Sharif, who retired from military service on Nov. 28.
Gen. Bajwa is expected to continue bleeding the Indian Army across the Line of Control through a combination of incessant small unit raids by Kashmiri militants, Pakistan Rangers, covert operations by Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and the occasional artillery and mortar bombardment.
The danger of a full-scale war erupting at the LoC remains high as both the Pakistan and Indian Army continue carrying out violent activities short of war. Most of those killed in the worsening violence are Indian and Pakistani civilians, however.
Prior to his appointment as army chief, Gen. Bajwa served at General Headquarters as the Inspector General of the Training and Evaluation from 2015 to 2016.
