US urges Pakistan to support government in Kabul

WASHINGTON: United States has urged Pakistan to support government in Kabul for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process to end conflict in war-torn country.

After meeting of senior officials of the two countries in Washington, the Trump administration has expressed willingness to work closely with Pakistan for peace in Afghanistan and the region.

“The United States looks forward to working closely with Pakistan to address critical threats to our shared interests, including fighting terrorism, and to advance regional peace, security, and stability,” a state department spokesperson told The News in a written response after the meeting between Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and US National Security Adviser HR McMaster.

On question of Pakistan’s proposal for peace process, the state department said it has long the policy of the United States to support an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process.

“We continue to encourage all countries interested in peace and stability in Afghanistan to put their support solely behind the government of Afghanistan,” the spokesman said.  On the other hand, Pakistan has stressed that while stabilising Afghanistan is top priority of the country, there is no military solution to the problem.  “Pakistan believes that there is no military solution. A political strategy is required to promote an Afghan led and Afghan owned peace process,” Pakistan’s Ambassador in Washington Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry told The News.

He said stabilising Afghanistan was important for both Pakistan and the US and Islamabad was seeking good ties with Kabul to ensure lasting peace in the region. Effective management to stop cross border movement of terrorists and dignified return of Afghan refugees to their homes were two other issues where Pakistan seeks Afghan cooperation.

On US, Pakistan ties Ambassador Chaudhry expressed desire for a broad based relationship which is mutually beneficial. “Pakistan attaches high importance to its relations with the US.

The two countries engage with each other in a host of areas from education to health to IT to agriculture to commerce and investment and security,” he said.

While asked about irritants in ties between the two countries as mentioned by Pakistani minister, Ambassador Chaudhry stressed: “In any relationship, there are points of convergence and points of divergence. It is important we build on where we agree and work on where we differ.”

Meanwhile addressing a seminar on US-Pakistan relations at the Harvard Kennedy School earlier, Ambassador Chaudhry conveyed a message of hope and optimism. He said Pakistan was working to deepen and broaden its historical ties with the United States.

“The recent high-level engagements between the two sides were cordial and there was a desire on both sides to constructively engage for a broad-based relationship.”  Ambassador also gave a broad overview of a resurgent Pakistan focusing on the improved security situation and the country’s economic revival.

He said that the people of Pakistan and all the government institutions reached a consensus in 2014 to eradicate terrorism from Pakistan.

The successes in security domain have a salutary effect on Pakistan’s economy, projected to become one of the top 20 economies of the world in the next decade, he added.