ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Perez Kayani will accompany President Asif Ali Zardari to Chicago, US, to attend the NATO leadership conference starting from May 20.

Reliable and well-informed military sources informed Online that General Kayani would attend the leadership conference in Chicago regarding Afghanistan’s future.

Sources also added that the decision to include General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani was made during last week’s troika’s meeting held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

President Zardari had directed Gen Kayani to accompany him (Zardari) to NATO leadership conference during this meeting, which was also attended by Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.

Online was further informed that General Kayani would assist President in the conference matters, besides meeting American military leadership, during which Kayani would also raise the issue of defence needs of Pakistani Armed forces and continuous drone attacks.

Sources also disclosed that Pakistani military wanted to carry out a limited operation in Northern Waziristan, to face the NATO leadership conference with a more favorable stance.

American President Obama’s special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Mark Grossman had delivered a special invitation to President Asif Ali Zardari on Obama’s behalf, after which Pakistan had decided to attend this conference.

However, the Foreign Office has, so far, not verified Pakistan’s decision to attend the NATO leadership conference of Chicago.

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