ISLAMABAD – Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi has said the incumbent Pakistani government under the leadership of prime minister Nawaz Sharif wants better relations with the upcoming Trump administration.
“America should know that Pakistan of today is a reliable, effective and serious partner of the United States in South Asia and the region beyond,” Fatemi said in an exclusive interview with APP in Washington.
He said the United States, one of the world’s leading powers, has historically been a friend of Pakistan for the last many decades during which both the countries have cooperated on some critical issues.
“The Trump administration should not forget the history of the excellent relations between Pakistan and the United States that serves the cause of peace in our part of the world,” Mr. Fatemi said.
Answering a question on Kashmir, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister stated that the dispute is on the agenda of the United Nation’s Security Council. He said there cannot be peace and stability in the region without the resolution of this long-standing dispute. He said that the occupation forces in the valley have unleashed a reign of terror through brutal and suppressive tactics.
Mr. Fatemi said that the United States is a major power and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council which has good relations with both Pakistan and India, which means that it has a vital role to play in ensuring peace in the region.
“The United States must seek to promote a relationship between India and Pakistan that is in consonance with the aspirations of the two countries and also meet the aspirations of the Kashmiri people who are struggling for their just cause of self-determination,” he added.
He expressed confidence that the coming days and months will see a mutually beneficial stable and improved relationship between Pakistan and the United States.
‘Today the inflation is the lowest in the country’s history and the foreign exchange reserves are record high. The impact of economic growth is visible from Karachi to Peshawar and the country is poised to achieve 5.5 percent growth in the current fiscal year’ Fatemi observed.
‘Pakistan’s policies have been appreciated by international organisations such as IMF, World Bank, Standard and Poor; institutions are strong and the country has gained success in countering terrorism,’ he said adding that these credentials are helping attract unprecedented investments in the country.
