US general to visit Pakistan

[February 07, 2012]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. officials say a senior U.S. military commander will visit Pakistan this month in what could be an important step in healing the rift between the two nations.

Two officials said Tuesday that Gen. James Mattis, commander of U.S. Central Command, will meet with Pakistani Army chief Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani to talk about the U.S. investigation into airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in Nov. 26 exchange of fire at the border with Afghanistan. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk on the record..

Mattis would be the first high-ranking official to visit since the airstrikes, which sent relations to a new low and prompted Pakistan to close its border to U.S. war supplies headed for Afghanistan.

[Associated Press; By PAULINE JELINEK]

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