ISLAMABAD – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that unlike the previous focus of talks between Pakistan and the US was gradually returning to bilateral aspects of ties.
The foreign minister said that bilateral engagements would be increasing in coming days after cold ties, adding that there are indications of opening up. He said that the relationship between the two countries is passing through a renewal phase.
He was responding to questions about the visit of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells at the foreign office.
Qureshi said that Wells informed the Pakistani side that US official would visit Pakistan with an aim to promote trade and energy cooperation.
He added that the Afghan issue was also discussed in the inter-ministerial session where the US diplomat informed Pakistan that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had formed a committee to contact Taliban.
Wells visited Islamabad on 6 November 2018 and she called on the Finance Minister Asad Umar and held delegation-level talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Delegation level talks were led by Mr. Aftab Khokher, Additional Secretary (Americas), from the Pakistan side. Senior officials from the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defence also attended the meeting.
The meeting took stock of the understanding reached between the Foreign Minister Qureshi and Secretary Pompeo to rebuild the relationship based on mutual trust and respect.
Pakistani side emphasized the need to diversify the relationship with particular focus on enhanced economic and trade cooperation and people to people contacts, said a statement issued by the FO.
Evolving regional situation and peace and stability in Afghanistan were also discussed. The US delegation appreciated the need to strengthen the bilateral relationship with Pakistan which was an important country of the region.
The two sides agreed to continue efforts to promote the shared objectives of peace and stability in the region and diversify bilateral relationship.
