Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif received the US Legion of Merit medal on Wednesday in recognition of his brave leadership, sagacity, vision and efforts for peace and stability in the region, according to a tweet by Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Asim Bajwa.

Army chief Gen Raheel also reviewed a military parade with gun salute during a guard of honour ceremony presented by the US Army.

Also read| COAS in US: Army praised for Zarb-i-Azb, fight against terror

Chief of Staff of the US Army, General Raymond T. Odierno, was also present during the ceremony.

During his first visit to the United States, General Raheel Sharif also held meetings with to US military officer General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Deputy Secretary of Defence Robert O. Work and International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) commander US General Joseph Dunford.

Read: Army chief holds talks at Pentagon

The meetings focused on issues pertaining to Afghanistan, regional security and long-term relationship between the military of both countries.

In an interview to BBC on Monday, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had said that Pakistan was not going to target militant groups that did not “pose direct a threat to the state”.

A clarification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saved the Pakistani delegation from possible embarrassment over Aziz's statement.

The US State Department on Wednesday reminded Pakistan that the Haqqani network was as much a threat to regional security as any other terrorist group.