Pakistan values its long standing relationship with the US: Imran Khan
COAS says Pakistan desires to maintain productive bilateral engagement with all the regional players
ISLAMABAD ( ABRAR MUSTAFA )
Prime Minister Imran Khan has stressed that a deeper and strong partnership between Pakistan and the United States is mutually beneficial and critical for region’s peace, security and prosperity.
Talking to a four member delegation of the US Senate including Senators Angus King, Richard Burr, John Cornyn and Benjamin Sasse in Islamabad on Saturday, PM Imran Khan said Pakistan values its long standing relationship with the US and is committed to expand it in all spheres, particularly in the economic dimension.
He hoped the visit of the Congressional delegation will help strengthen mutual understanding and forge closer people to people contacts.
Regarding evolving situation in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan emphasized that Pakistan and the US must have deeper engagement to promote the shared objectives of peace, stability and economic development. He particularly underscored the urgent need to support the Afghan people by taking all possible measures to prevent a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of closer cooperation to address the security threats including terrorism in the region.
Apprising the US delegation about the continuing egregious human rights violations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Imran Khan said the extremist policies of the RSS inspired BJP government in India are posing a threat to regional peace and security. He said the US must play its role in the maintenance of peace and stability in the region. On its part, he said, Pakistan is ready to pursue measures that would reinforce peace, stability and prosperity of the region, if the enabling environment is created by India.
The US Senators deeply appreciated Pakistan’s recent contribution in evacuation of the American nationals and others from Afghanistan. They reaffirmed their commitment to a stable and broad based Pakistan-US bilateral relationship.
The delegation said both the US and Pakistan should make determined efforts to promote trade, investment and economic cooperation.
later on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa says that Pakistan desires to maintain productive bilateral engagement with all the regional players and wished for peaceful, diversified, sustained relations.
According to a press release issued by ISPR on Saturday, Members of US Senate Armed Services and intelligence Committees headed by Senator Angus King, called on General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Delegation also included Senator Richard Burr, Senator John Cornyn and Senator Ben Sasse. Ms Angela Aggeler, US Charge d’ Affaires to Pakistan accompanied the delegation.
During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, current security situation in Afghanistan and bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed. COAS said that Pakistan desires to maintain productive bilateral engagement with all the regional players and wished for peaceful, diversified, sustained relations. COAS also reiterated the urgency for global convergence on Afghanistan to avoid looming humanitarian crisis and need for coordinated efforts for economic uplift of the Afghan people. COAS thanked the Senators for their efforts in forging mutual understanding of geo political and security situation in view of challenges ahead.
The visiting dignitaries appreciated Pakistan’s role in Afghan situation, special efforts for border management, role in regional stability and pledged to play their part for furthering diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels.
Earlier Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood received a four-member delegation of U.S. Senate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday. The delegation included Senators Angus King, Richard Burr, John Cornyn and Benjamin Sasse.
Welcoming the Senate delegation to Pakistan, the Foreign Secretary underscored that Pakistan valued its long-standing relationship with the United States and wanted to further deepen bilateral ties based on shared interests. He emphasized that deeper engagement between the two countries was pivotal for peace, security and development in the region. Highlighting Pakistan’s pivot to geo-economics, the Foreign Secretary emphasized that Pakistan welcomed enhanced bilateral trade and greater investments from the U.S. He hoped that the U.S. companies would reap dividends from Pakistan’s emerging market status.
The Foreign Secretary briefed the Senators on the serious humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and underscored that the international community must help the Afghan people avert the crisis through immediate support and financial assistance. In this regard, he stressed the importance of release of Afghanistan’s frozen financial resources. The Foreign Secretary also apprised the visiting delegation about Pakistan’s efforts to mobilize international support through multiple regional and international mechanisms and mentioned, in this context, the Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers being hosted in Islamabad.
The Foreign Secretary also briefed the delegation about unabated gross human rights violations against the Kashmiris in IIOJK and underscored that the U.S. Congress must play its due role in this regard.
The Senators, acknowledging the importance of long-standing Pakistan-U.S. ties, affirmed the desire to further strengthen the bilateral relationship in its myriad dimensions. The Senators appreciated Pakistan’s role in the evacuation of U.S. nationals and others post-15 August 2021 and stressed the importance of closer cooperation to support the objectives of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
All four Senators are members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, while Senator King is also member of the Senate Armed Services committee.