Fatemi says held meetings in US daily, no mention of Imran

ISLAMABAD: Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Foreign Affairs, has completed a week-long, high-level diplomatic visit to the United States, during which he engaged with top US officials, UN representatives and members of the Pakistani diaspora.

Upon his return, Fatemi submitted an extensive report to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressing optimism that the trajectory of bilateral ties between Pakistan and the United States is on a constructive path, paving the way for new avenues of cooperation.

He believes Pakistan will have to articulate and evolve its strategy in exceptionally careful manner. In the meantime, Tariq Fatemi claimed that none of his interlocutors on the US soil even mentioned PTI Chairman Imran Khan, what to talk of other issues related to him. He had six to seven meetings daily on an average during his stay, including with UN Secretary General, members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), top members of the US Congress at Capitol Hill, White House and State Department.

Fatemi offered his Eid prayers in Washington’s Islamic Centre where he interacted with Pakistani diaspora besides fellow Muslims from other parts of the world but none raised any question regarding Imran.

Tariq Fatemi has served in the US for more than 10 years as a senior diplomat and one-time country’s ambassador in Washington.

Diplomatic sources told The News here the other day that the government is satisfied about disposition of the Washington and the Trump administration towards Pakistan from where significant visits are due in a couple of days, while a high echelon delegation from Pakistan is about to leave for Washington.