–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.
The US Vice President is like a member of White House Staff. The Pakistan Ambassador to US must be sacked forthwith for putting up a flag visible behind. This is NOT PAKISTAN FLAG. Pakistan Flag is dark Green. This one is not .
I agree, the official color of our flag is Olive green and I see light green, this color is also seen in Cricket, etc as well. Someone needs to get the colors corrected, we are losing our National symbol and everyone is asleep at the wheel.
The shot could have had over exposure!
Just like your country’s image in the world which is ‘fading’ rapidly so is the color of your flag!
paul, I don’t blame you for such a comment. You see the families that have done all this damage grew up in the west and have now been kicked out. Leftovers will soon follow.
USA especially under Trump administration would never engage Pakistan in Afgan peace process, cause Pakistan is the sole reason that there is instability
Now Pakistan is trying to keep itself in the loop showing concerns which ironically its neighboring countries have against it as a disruptor of regional peace and safe haven for terrorist, smuggler of missile and fissile materials to North korea
From Israelis in India, to americans in Afghanistan ,to Buddhist in Myanmar ,to English in their own homeland no one is safe from these
But THERE’S A CATCH, that IN ALL THESE YEARS OF PAKISTANI TERRORISM NONE OR NEGLIGIBLE CHINESE WERE KILLED, Because their terrorist are nothing but a offshoot regiment of army, and they are directed by Pakistani government for both internal ethnic cleansing of baloch, hazaras and foreign terrorism while Pakistani government try to show a picture such that they are the one who is suffering for the former and Term as afgan sponsored terrorism for the later all the while harboring international terrorist like Bin laden, Mullah, Hizbul, LeT, JeM and what not
You people may look and interpret things from the prism of globalization and humans ,but USA UK EU Australia China only see your real side of what you people really are
The annual Gen.assembly Meeting at UN is regarded as the biggest garden party on the earth. Nothing ever comes out of it. Every leader gets his fifteen minutes of fame and thats it. The casual nature of this is represented by the clothes our PM is wearing. A suit without a tie! He would have been better off wearing the national dress. This is the second time a Pakistani PM has been snubbed by the US president. The first time was in KSA. How the times have changed.
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