Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and US Vice President Joseph Biden, on Wednesday, discussed the issue of terrorism in the backdrop of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014 and other issues of mutual interest.
Nawaz met Biden prior to his meeting with US President Barack Obama, said media reports.
The two leaders discussed ways to promote bilateral cooperation in economy‚ trade‚ energy‚ and defence fields.
The vice president held an informal meeting with the Pakistani prime minister over breakfast in which they discussed terrorism in the backdrop of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014 and other issues of mutual interest.
In a nod to the fading of tensions since the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden, President Barack Obama’s administration has moved to release more than $300 million in blocked security assistance to Pakistan.
But tensions remain over the US campaign of drone attacks aimed at extremists deep inside the country’s lawless areas. Sharif urged an end to the strikes, which a new Amnesty International report said may violate international law by killing civilians.
But Nawaz, calling for a fresh partnership with the United States on the eve of his meeting with Obama, largely steered clear of Pakistan’s past narrative of outside interference that has jarred relations.
“It is my endeavor to approach this important relationship with an open and fresh mind, leaving behind the baggage of trust deficit and mutual suspicions,” Nawaz said at the US Institute of Peace.
“The greatest challenge to Pakistan comes from terrorism and extremism,” Sharif said, calling his nation “a major victim” of a decade of attacks that have killed more than 40,000 people.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama hoped to use the meeting with Nawaz to promote “a stable, secure and prosperous Pakistan that is contributing to regional and international security and prosperity.”
The White House meeting is Nawaz Sharif’s first since he swept to power in May elections. It comes a year before the United States plans to pull out combat troops from Afghanistan, ending its longest war launched after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
In a message sure to be welcomed at the White House, Nawaz said that Pakistan supported a “peaceful, stable and unified Afghanistan” – whose leaders often accuse Pakistan’s powerful spy network of covertly supporting the Taliban.
Nawaz said he has assured Afghan President Hamid Karzai “that we wish neither to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, nor do we have any favorites”.
Obama is expected to sound out Sharif for ideas on reaching an elusive peace agreement involving the Taliban, as well as practical support for pulling out most of the 50,000 US troops in Afghanistan. Keeping expectations in check.
Robert Hathaway, director of the Asia program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, said that Nawaz had “no alternative” but to raise drones due to the sweeping opposition inside Pakistan to the attacks.
“By the same token, I think it’s unrealistic that Obama is going to have any real give on this subject so long as the insurgents continue to find a sanctuary in Pakistan and then slip across the border to kill Americans and NATO forces,” Hathaway said.
Separately, former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright and chair of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) called on Nawaz in Washington.
Talking to her, the PM acknowledged the contribution of National Democratic Institute in improving the electoral systems in the country and also expressed the desire of Government of Pakistan to continue working closely with the organizations such as NDI to consolidate the democratic gains in Pakistan.
Albright praised the Pakistanis on the historic transfer of power from one civilian government to the next following the May 11 elections.
On behalf of NDI‚ she offered continued support for strengthening democracy in the country.
Nawaz emphasised that democracy had taken roots in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Nawaz also met the key US Congressmen at the Capitol Hill. He was welcomed by Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ranking member Congressman Eliot Engel and other members of the Committee from both sides of the aisle.
During the meeting, the prime minister spoke on a broad range of issues in the bilateral relationship. He said that democracy was a shared value between the peoples of the United States and Pakistan. He noted that both countries had cooperated closely at important junctures of history and a strong Pakistan-US bilateral relationship was important for peace and stability in the region.
The PM said that Pakistan desired to build an enduring partnership with the United States in the future. He also underscored the importance of enhanced trade and expanding people to people contacts between the two nations. He also drew US Congressmen’s attention to Pakistan’s concerns on the continued use of drones.
In his remarks, Chairman Ed Royce recognized the sacrifices made the people of Pakistan in the fight against terrorists and said that a strong relationship between Pakistan and the United States was critical to achieve shared objectives.
The meeting was followed by an interactive session and the US Congressman discussed matters of interest with the Prime Minister.
The US lawmakers urged Nawaz to release Shakil Afridi, who allegedly helped the US to track down al Qaida chief Osama bin Laden.
“I specifically pressed the prime minister to release Dr Shakil Afridi and encouraged him to ensure that his nation is in fact a responsible and effective partner in countering terrorism, proliferation and violent extremism in the region,” Ed Royce said.
Royce and Congressman Elliot Engel, ranking member of house foreign affairs committee along with 15 members of this powerful congressional committee met Sharif at the Rayburn House building at the US Capitol.
“The house foreign affairs committee used this visit of the prime minister to engage in a frank and full discussion about a variety of issues critical to US national security,” Royce said.
