US asks Pakistan, India to solve issues for peace in region

ISLAMABAD: The United States (US) while expressing concern about the tense ties between Pakistan and India has impressed upon both the countries to find ways for constructive engagement in the interest of the region and peace.

The US Acting Assistant Secretary of State Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Ambassador Ms. Alice G. Wells was talking to The News at the Jhelum Houseon Monday evening where Senator Anver Beg hosted dinner in her honour.

She was of the view that escalation between the two countries would harm their efforts and desire for peace and prosperity of their people. Ms. Alice, who has come from India and other South Asian countries and had an extensive schedule of meetings in Islamabad before returning home tomorrow, reminded that trust deficit isn’t the only issue between the two big countries of South Asia but it needs bold decisions on the part of the leadership of the two.

While referring to the Afghan issue, Ambassador Alice said that the role Pakistan has played for the peace process in Afghanistan needs further impetus but Pakistan’s contribution couldn’t be underestimated. She was hopeful that the intra-Afghan dialogue would become a possibility soon and the ceasefire will also be in place in the war-torn country.

She was hopeful that Pakistan would live up to the expectations of FATF but it must keep on working for the objectives enumerated by the Task Force.

The acting Assistant Secretary of State said that US President Trump is keenly working with the countries of the region for stability and peace in the area. To a query, she termed the news about the visit of President Trump to India next month just as speculative by saying “It cannot be confirmed right now.”

Ambassador Alice Wells said that the United States is working closely with Pakistan so that its relations with Pakistan could be transformed from aid to trade for which Pakistan has great potential. The United States is interested that Pakistan should become a country with enormous production and to have trade with important countries of the world.

Senator Anver Beg reminded on the occasion that Alice Wells had earlier served in Pakistan and she is among the senior officials of the State Department who are true friends of Pakistan.

The dinner was attended by besides personnel of the US mission in Pakistan, former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General (retired) Ehsanul Haq, Lieutenant General (retired) Tariq Khan, Lieutenant General (retired) Tariq Yaseen, Pakistan’s former ambassador to India, China, and the United States Riaz Hussain Khokhar, former ambassador Abdul Basit, senior media persons Shahrukh Hasan, Arif Nizami, Haris Khalique, Imtiaz Gul, and some TV anchors.