FM Qureshi meets Mike Pompeo, reiterates desire for political settlement in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON - Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a meeting with the US State Secretary Mike Pompeo in Washington on Tuesday.

The Foreign Minister, who is paying an official visit to Washington at Secretary Pompeo's invitation, said that close engagement between Pakistan and the United States had always been mutually beneficial and a factor for stability in South Asia. He stressed that, going forward, a broad-based and structured framework for dialogue would best serve the two countries' shared interests.

Foreign Minister Qureshi highlighted the development-focused and people-centric agenda of the Government, which was contingent on peace and security in Pakistan's neighborhood.

Qureshi noted that Pakistan and the United States shared a common desire for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large, reiterating Pakistan's support for a political settlement in Afghanistan, noting that the use of force had failed to deliver results.

The Foreign Minister stressed that peace in South Asia, which was a common goal of both the United States and Pakistan, would remain elusive until all disputes, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir, are resolved.

Welcoming the Foreign Minister to the State Department, Secretary Pompeo said the United States looked forward to working with the new Government of Pakistan in implementing its reform agenda. He appreciated Pakistan's support for political reconciliation in Afghanistan and its efforts for peace in the neighborhood.

Both sides agreed that the time was ripe for the Afghan Taliban to avail the opportunity for a political settlement by seizing the opportunity for dialogue.

The two leaders agreed to remain engaged with a view to achieving their shared bilateral and regional objectives.

The Foreign Minister was assisted by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, Ali Jehangir Siddiqui.

Earlier, Qureshi held a meeting with US National Security Advisor John Bolton at the White House on Tuesday.

Pakistan Embassy in Washington said on Twitter that FM Qureshi and US National Security Adviser discussed Pakistan-US bilateral relations and regional situation in South Asia.

https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/1047150795945390081

The foreign minister also met Senator Lindsey Graham and discussed bilateral relations and Afghanistan.

The senator said he had personally seen the progress Pakistan had made in the erstwhile tribal areas during his last visit to the region and looked forward to leading a delegation to Islamabad soon.

https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/1047162643021275136

Pak-US relations and overall situation of South Asia came under discussion in the meeting.

The foreign minister will also speak at the United States Institute of Peace on the subject of Pakistan’s New Government Change or Continuity in Foreign Policy tomorrow.

The minister is also scheduled to hold meetings with members of US Congress.