BEIRUT: Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal departed for Pakistan on Saturday for talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in a visit that a source said is linked to wider Iran-US negotiations.
Lebanese media had earlier reported that the army chief would travel to Pakistan for talks with Field Marshal Munir.
Lebanon’s LBCI television channel, citing sources, reported on Friday that Haykal was expected to leave for Pakistan within hours to hold talks with Field Marshal Asim Munir.
A source with knowledge of the matter told AFP Haykal’s visit is “linked to the Pakistani mediation to resolve” issues between the United States and Iran who are negotiating an end to the Middle East regional war.
The visit is taking place against the backdrop of ongoing Pakistan-led diplomatic efforts for regional peace and security talks between Israel and Lebanon.
Islamabad continued diplomatic engagement with regional stakeholders and pursued efforts to facilitate negotiations between the US and Iran.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Saturday, where he will hold meetings with senior Iranian leadership, Iranian media reported.
Iranian media reported that Naqvi is scheduled to meet senior Iranian leaders, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during his visit to discuss regional developments and ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
Lebanon’s military said earlier on Saturday that three soldiers were killed in an Israeli strike on the country’s south.
A new conditional truce was announced by Lebanese and Israeli envoys this week in Washington.
It would require Hezbollah to stop firing, withdraw from near the Israeli border and would see Lebanon’s army deploy to new “pilot zones” in the area, where it will exercise exclusive control.
But Hezbollah has rejected the agreement, demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
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