WASHINGTON (Staff Report) – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has termed his talks with President Barack Obama as very positive and constructive.
Addressing a news conference after his meeting with the US President at the White House, the Prime Minister said President Obama and he discussed the whole range of issues from bilateral ties to situation in the region and the world at large.
He said Pakistan and the United States also agreed to continue to make joint efforts for the reconciliation and peace process in Afghanistan.
Nawaz Sharif shared with the US president Pakistan’s desire to have peaceful relations with India.
Prime Minister said he informed the US President the centrality of the Kashmir dispute in reducing tension between the two countries and for lasting peace.
He said President Obama agreed that the Kashmir issue needs to be resolved through pursuing an effective mechanism.
Prime Minister Sharif said his visit to the United States has achieved its desired objectives and presented a detailed overview of his meetings with Vice President Joe Biden and others.
He said the two countries focused on six Working Groups under the Strategic Dialogue Process and expressed the hope that it would further bolster their ties.
Prime Minister said he also briefed the US president about the progress Pakistan has made on the economic front, with positive indicators, duly acknowledged by international rating agencies.
Pakistan and the United States have expressed their commitment to fostering a deeper, stronger, multi-dimensional partnership based on mutual respect, trust and understanding.
Meanwhile, according to a Joint Statement issued after the meeting, the two leaders agreed to expand their bilateral relationship in areas outside the security realm.
The two leaders expressed their conviction that a resilient U.S.-Pakistan partnership is vital to regional and global peace and security and reaffirmed their commitment to address evolving threats in South Asia.
President Obama and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reaffirmed that a mutual commitment to democracy is a key pillar of the U.S.-Pakistan partnership.
They expressed desire to expand bilateral relationship in trade and investment; education, science and technology; clean, efficient and affordable energy; economic growth; regional integration; rule of law; people-to-people and cultural ties; and support for democratic principles.
They committed to build on the ongoing U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue to advance progress in these and other areas.
President Obama commended Pakistan’s reform program, which has re-established macroeconomic stability.
President Obama indicated that the United States will help Pakistan create conditions for accelerated trade and investment-driven growth.
According to the joint statement, Pakistan and the United States expressed concern over the situation along the Line of Control and called for resolving all issues, including Kashmir, through talks.
The two leaders underscored that all sides should continuously act with maximum restraint and work jointly toward strengthening strategic stability in South Asia.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Obama discussed the continuing threat of nuclear terrorism and committed to work jointly.
Both the leaders expressed commitment to advance an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process and called on Taliban leaders to enter into direct talks with Kabul for sustainable peace in Afghanistan.
The US President reaffirmed his country’s support for the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement, the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission, Trade Project electricity corridor and the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline project.
President Obama acknowledged Pakistan’s role as key counterterrorism partner and recognized Pakistan’s sacrifices in fight against terrorism.
