WASHINGTON/RAWALPINDI – US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made atelephonic contact with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar JavedBajwa on Wednesday to discuss the drawdown of US activity in neighboringAfghanistan, a Pentagon press release said.

“During the call, Secretary Austin reaffirmed the importance of theUS-Pakistan bilateral relationship and expressed appreciation forPakistan’s support for Afghanistan Peace Negotiations. Secretary Austin andGeneral Bajwa also discussed the drawdown in Afghanistan,” the release read.

The Pentagon on Friday announced that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hadordered the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier to remain in theregion for “a period of time.” Long-range bombers are also headed to theregion, and two US Air Force B-52s are already in place.

US President Joe Biden announced earlier this month the decision towithdraw troops from the country starting on that May 1 deadline, with theaim of completely withdrawing from Afghanistan by September 11, which wouldmark the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that sparked thewar in Afghanistan the longest conflict in American history.