WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that Pakistan desired peace in Afghanistan and was fully committed to working with the United States in achieving a political settlement in the war ravaged country.
He was talking to US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham who called on him at the Pakistan House here.
Graham, also the head of the US Senate Judiciary Committee, according to a press statement, “has been the most vocal and active supporter of refreshing US-Pakistan bilateral ties in the interest of regional peace and security”.
In the Graham-Khan meeting, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mehmood, and Pakistani Ambassador to the US Dr Asad Majeed Khan were present.
The PM and Senator Graham discussed bilateral relations and the regional situation. Imran appreciated Senator Graham’s efforts and support for strengthening Pakistan-US relations and apprised the senator of his government’s development and economic priorities.
He said Pakistan desired a broad based relationship with the United States that safeguarded the two countries’ interests and promoted win-win cooperation in areas ranging from the economy to trade and investment to energy and education.
Senator Graham agreed with Imran that sustained and high-level engagement between Pakistan and the United States were to the two countries’ mutual advantage. He appreciated Pakistan’s support for the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
The senator said the marked improvement in Pakistan’s security environment was a result of its successful counterterrorism operations and efforts to secure the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.