Pompeo calls on PM Imran

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Imran Khan told Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that convergence on promoting a political solution in Afghanistan had created the opportunity for regional peace and stability. The secretary had called on the prime minister on Tuesday, where the prime minister said that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was vital for Pakistan. Khan, in his meeting, emphasised the importance of close collaboration between Pakistan and US to advance that objective. The prime minister said that a strong Pakistan-US partnership remained vital to the promotion of the mutual interests of the two countries as well as broader regional peace, stability and prosperity, according to the statement issued by the embassy.

Reiterating his government’s support to a broad-based and enduring Pakistan-US relationship, the prime minister emphasised the need to further enhance and diversify the bilateral content of the relationship in a wide range of areas.

The statement said that the prime minister also spoke about his government’s successes in countering the scourge of terrorism and his initiatives to build peace in the region. He noted that the government of Pakistan had taken myriad administrative and legal measures to mainstream Madaris.

As part of his policy of “peaceful neighbourhood”, the prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s desire for peaceful and cooperative relations with all neighbours. He underscored the various initiatives taken to advance this objective with regard to India. He underlined that the peace dividend for both countries would be enormous with peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes and would usher in an eras of peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia.

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, Ambassador Asad M Khan and Aftab A Khokhar, Additional Secretary (Americas) joined the meeting.

Secretary Pompeo was accompanied by Under-Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells and Paul W. Jones US Charge d’ Affaires in Islamabad.