Stressing that Pakistan is part of solution to the Afghan “dilemma” Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Wednesday sought better understanding of Islamabad’s priorities and concerns on various issues as she met with US Congressional leaders on Capitol Hill.
The foreign minister had a “candid” exchange of views with the members of the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Capitol Hill, the Pakistani embassy said.
The chief Pakistani diplomat was accompanied by Islamabad’s ambassador to the U.S. Sherry Rehman at the meeting.
On the US side, Chair Senator Dianne Feinstein, Vice Chairman Senator Saxby Chambliss, and Senators Richard Burr, Dan Coats, Bill Nelson, M3co Rubio, and James Risch attended the meeting.
Khar apprised the American lawmakers of the extraordinary efforts and sacrifices Pakistan has made in its drive to eradicate the scourge of terrorism and build a peaceful, stable South and Central Asia.
“Pakistan attached great importance to its relationship with the US and the people of Pakistan wanted their contributions and sacrifices in fighting terrorism recognized and appreciated,” she said.
She advocated “it was important that Pakistan’s priorities, concerns and constraints were better understood by the US.”
Khar said that she was in Washington to have “in-depth discussions on how best to deal with the challenges in the bilateral relationship and to build on the recent positive momentum in strengthening the special relationship” between Pakistan and the United States.
She informed the members of the Senate Intelligence Committee that Pakistan aims to have a “genuine” dialogue with the United States on Afghanistan and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to use the trilateral mechanism to promote an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process.
Instability in Afghanistan, she pointed out, threatens Pakistan more than any other nation on earth.
“Pakistan is a critical part of the solution to the Afghan dilemma, and said that the notion that Pakistan is part of the problem is wrong and must be corrected.”
She also reiterated that a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan is central to both the short and long term interests of Pakistan.
Khar responded to a number of questions raised by her interlocutors on regional security, counterterrorism efforts, and reconciliation in Afghanistan.
The meeting lasted for approximately one hour. Foreign Minister Khar is scheduled to hold more meetings with important US legislators, members of the Obama Administration, leaders of Washington’s think tank community, and critical elements of the US electronic and print press during her stay in Washington.
