Says Pakistan, US agree their relationship should not be security-centric alone
Says dossiers of evidence of Indian involvement in destabilizing Pakistan handed over to the US
Foreign secretary tight-lipped over discussion of Pakistan’s nuclear programme; says US confident over security of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal
Says Pakistan has done a lot, it’s time for the world to do more on terrorism
As Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held meetings with senior US administration officials including Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday, there was a strong desire on both the sides to further strengthen and turn their bilateral ties into a deep, enduring and multi-faceted partnership, the foreign secretary said in his briefing.
“During the important meetings there appeared an impression as well as the desire from both sides that Pak-US relationship should not be security-centric alone, rather it should base on deep, enduring and multi-faceted partnership”, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry said while briefing the newsmen about the prime minister’s back-to-back meetings with senior US officials.
Besides the meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry, the prime minister also held meetings with Senate and House Foreign Affairs Committees, Secretaries of Treasury and Energy and MD IMF. The PM also addressed a business forum organized by Pak-US Business Council, the foreign secretary said.
He said that during the meeting with John Kerry, the two sides discussed counter-terrorism measures, prospects of peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan as well as the situation in South Asia.
John Kerry, he said, praised Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts as well as its role as a facilitator in advancing the reconciliation process in Afghanistan. The two leaders agreed to continue cooperation to tackle the challenges in the region.
Regarding the situation in South Asia, the Foreign Secretary said, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif informed the US side about the “peace initiative” he announced during the annual UN General Assembly session last month.
During the meeting, Sharif expressed concern over the cease-fire violations by India on the Line of Control, he added.
The foreign secretary said that during the meeting with Kerry the issue of Indian involvement to destabilize Pakistan was also discussed, and in this respect Advisor to the PM on National Security Sartaj Aziz also presented a copy of three dossiers given to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon last month.
“With the tone and tenor being good in the meeting, the two sides desired to further strengthen their bilateral relations”, he remarked.
The foreign secretary described as “speculation” some media reports about the discussion with US side on Pakistan’s nuclear programme. He, however, added, Pakistan and the United States were already having a dialogue on nuclear matters, which would continue.
Responding to a question, the foreign secretary said that the United States expressed its confidence over the effective Command and Control structure Pakistan had to safeguard its nuclear arsenal.
About counter-terrorism measures being taken by Pakistan, he said, there was no talk of “do more”.”Pakistan has done a lot, and now it is time for the world to do more,” he remarked.
During the Prime Minister’s meeting with IMF team, the foreign secretary said the government’s policy of economic and financial reforms, which also led to improvement in economy, was praised.
He said that during the meetings with secretaries Treasury and Energy, the US side expressed their satisfaction over the economic revival in Pakistan.
The Foreign Secretary said during the meetings with Senate and House Foreign Affairs Committees, the prime minister apprised them about Pakistan’s successes in the fight against terrorism and how Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) were being rehabilitated.
During the meetings with US Senators and Congressmen, situation in the region vis a vis Afghanistan and India as well as the counter-terrorism efforts were also discussed. He said that the meetings remained positive and productive, as Pakistan presented its point of view on different issues at the highest level.
