ISLAMABAD, DEC 04 (DNA) – US Defence Secretary James Mattis arrived in the capital on Monday, as Pakistan and the United States struggle to find a common ground on the Afghan endgame and the fight against terrorism. Senior government officials received him at the Nur Khan Airbase, Chaklala.

During his stay in Pakistan, Mattis is expected to meet Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss the current situation of Afghanistan and how the two countries can best cooperate with each other to bring some semblance of normalcy.

According to a statement issued by the US Department of Defence, quoting Pentagon, Mattis on Friday embarked on a five-day trip to Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan and Kuwait.

Mattis is scheduled to meet with leaders in each nation “to re-affirm the enduring US commitment to partnerships in the Middle East, West Africa and South Asia,” said Pentagon.

US officials have long been frustrated by what they see as Pakistan’s reluctance to act against groups such as the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network that they believe exploit safe havens on Pakistani soil to launch attacks on neighbouring Afghanistan.

“We have heard from Pakistani leaders that they do not support terrorism… we expect them to act in their own best interest, and in support of peace and regional stability,” Mattis said told reporters travelling with him this week.

CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) Chief Mike Pompeo, on Monday, warned Pakistan on Monday that if it does not eliminate the alleged safe havens inside its territory, the United States will do “everything we can” to destroy them,

In August 2017, Donald Trump had outlined a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan, chastising Pakistan over its alleged support for Afghan militants. He accused Pakistan of harbouring “agents of chaos” and providing safe havens to militant groups waging an insurgency against a US-backed government in Kabul. Pakistan has vehemently denied all such claims.