–Prime Minister Abbasi meets US Vice President Mike Pence on sidelines of UNGA session in meeting arranged at Washington’s request
–Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua says meeting was an ‘ice-breaker’, US delegation to visit Pakistan in October for bilateral dialogue
–Says premier categorically rejected Trump’s allegations saying ‘scapegoating Pakistan will not help bring stability to Afghanistan’
NEW YORK: Pakistan and the United States have agreed to work together to achieve shared objectives of peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region, and carry forward the relationship that has been on a downward trajectory since the announcement of the US policy for Afghanistan and South Asia.
The consensus was reached during a meeting between Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and US Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York on Wednesday.
Abbasi was assisted by Minister for Foreign Affairs Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Aizaz Chaudhry and Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Dr Maleeha Lodhi.
Abbasi’s meeting with Pence is the first high-level contact between the two countries, after the announcement of the new US strategy by President Donald Trump on Afghanistan and South Asia, that carried a series of allegations against Pakistan for not doing enough in its fight against terrorism.
A handout issued by the Pakistani Foreign Office said the meeting on the sidelines of the 72nd UNGA session in New York was held in a cordial atmosphere.
“Prime Minister [Abbasi] shared Pakistan’s concerns and views with regard to the US strategy for South Asia,” it said, adding that Abbasi and Pence agreed to work together to carry forward the bilateral relationship and discussed matters relating to peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
“It was agreed that the two countries would stay engaged with a constructive approach to achieve shared objectives of peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region,” the FO statement said.
In his opening remarks, the US vice president greeted Abbasi on behalf of President Donald Trump. He recalled the strategy articulated by Trump on South Asia and said the US valued its relationship with Pakistan, a long-term partnership for security in the region.
“We look forward to exploring ways so that we can work even more closely with Pakistan and with your government to advance security throughout the region,” he told Abbasi.
In response, Abbasi said Pakistan intends to continue efforts to eliminate terrorism in the area.
“We have made our contributions, we fought a very difficult war, we suffered casualties and have suffered economic losses and that is the message that we bring to the world,” he said. “We are partners in the war against terrorism.”
“It was a good meeting,” Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua told reporters after the 45-minute meeting that the US had requested.
Responding to questions, she termed the progress made at the meeting as an “ice-breaker”, adding that a US delegation will visit Pakistan next month to continue the process of bilateral dialogue.
She said the premier elaborated the points raised by the National Security Committee in which Pakistan categorically rejected allegations contained in President Trump’s speech, saying “scapegoating Pakistan will not help bring stability to Afghanistan”.
The foreign secretary said that during the meeting, Abbasi also expressed concern over the greater role the new US policy advocated for India.
Fractious Pakistan-US relations got further strained last month when President Trump unveiled his administration’s policy on Afghanistan and South Asia. The policy lays special emphasis on kinetic operations to subdue Taliban militancy in Afghanistan, envisions greater role for India in Afghanistan and the overall regional security, and has been particularly hawkish on Pakistan accusing it of being an insincere partner in the fight against terrorism.
The new policy, which was seen here as humiliating, disrespectful to Pakistani sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, and indifferent to Islamabad’s security concerns, prompted a re-assessment of ties at the highest level.
The process is yet to complete, but indications from different levels of government point towards an existing consensus that there is no other option, but to stay engaged with the US.