Fatemi begins government’s drive to establish closer links with US admin

Meets Republican adviser, discusses PM’s visit to US next month,
other issues; also meets Deputy Secretary Blinken

WASHINGTON: Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi has kicked off the Pakistani government’s campaign to establish closer links with the new US administration under President-elect Donald Trump.

On the first day of his tour, he met key Republican Adviser of Pakistani origin Sajid Tarar and discussed the possibility of a visit by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif next month to attend the inauguration of Trump as the US President.

He also held talks with US media representatives at the Pakistan Embassy here and called on US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department. “I had a very productive meeting with the top Pakistani diplomat in which the US-Pakistan relations were discussed,” Tarar told The News. Tarar said he would play his role in bringing the two countries closer. “The possibility of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit next month was also discussed in the meeting,” Tarar said. 

During his meeting with Antony Blinken at the State Department, Fatemi expressed the hope that after the completion of the ongoing transition process, the two sides would resume their regular engagement on the bilateral track.

Pakistani Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani also accompanied him during the meeting. According to the embassy, the two sides expressed satisfaction at several achievements in areas of peace and security, counter terrorism, defence and economic cooperation. It was agreed that the Pakistan-US relationship was important to regional as well as global peace and security and should continue to be strengthened under the next administration.

The US deputy secretary appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace and stability in the region. He admired the generosity of Pakistan in hosting millions of Afghan refugees for over four decades and expressed appreciation on the recent decision to extend the deadline for the repatriation of these refugees.

The regional situation, including the escalation across the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, were also discussed during the meeting. Fatemi briefed the US deputy secretary on the frequency of ceasefire violations by India in recent weeks with particular reference to targeting of civilians across the LoC.

He also pointed out that the massive and systematic human rights violations in the occupied Kashmir were resulting in hundreds of casualties and debilitating injuries to civilians, including women and children.

While expressing concern on the increasing escalation at the LoC, Blinken reiterated the US position on the need for reducing tension in South Asia and promoting closer cooperation and dialogue between the two largest countries of the region.

Earlier, Fatemi told the US journalists that the Pakistani government wanted closer ties with the Trump administration and was looking forward for his role in peace building in South Asia. “Once president-elect Donald Trump assumes his office, Pakistan is looking forward to meaningful engagement with US in further improving bilateral relations and playing its role in the context of regional and international issues,” he said according to the Pakistan Embassy here.

He highlighted the importance of Pakistan for the world and the United States. “Pakistan can play an instrumental role in promoting peace not only in Afghanistan but in the entire region,” he further said.

To questions from reporters he played down Trump’s comments regarding Muslims in the campaign. “I have some experience in what (American) campaign rhetoric is,” Fatemi said, noting his experience serving as a senior Pakistani diplomat to the US going back to the Nixon administration.

Fatemi currently is visiting the US to have interaction with the current US administration and also to reach out to officials who are likely to join the new administration.

Fatemi told the US journalists that Pakistan has lost more than 5,000 army men in a ruthless war against terrorism and has deputed more than 200,000 troops in its Northern Areas and along the Pak-Afghan border. “These troops are being used with full force along with the F-16s by Pakistan Air Force in eliminating terrorists’ networks and demolishing their hideouts,” he said.

Talking about the tensions in South Asia, Fatemi said Pakistan and India need to resolve the longstanding issue of Kashmir. He also highlighted that there was an indigenous, widespread and homegrown uprising in Indian-occupied Kashmir, which Indian government is trying to suppress through horrendous human rights violations.

“Over 16,000 Kashmiris have been injured and approximately 600 blinded by using special kind of guns aimed at damaging the eyesight of innocent Kashmiris,” he said. “In addition, the number of ceasefire violations have increased during the recent months. These violations are targeted at innocent civilians which were not seen even during wars.”

Meanwhile, Fatemi underscored that Pakistan wants a meaningful engagement and improvement in bilateral relations to achieve regional and international policy goals, according to the press statement issued to the Pakistani press by the embassy.

Another press statement from the embassy also claimed that the deputy secretary appreciated Pakistan's efforts to promote peace and stability in the region. "Pakistan's participation in the Heart of Asia conference and its earlier pledge at the Brussels Conference to provide $500 million for development projects in Afghanistan were seen as concrete and positive steps.”