US seeks Pak help in containing terror

Ambassador Jillani meets PM, advisers

ISLAMABAD: The United States and other countries are seeking Pakistan’s expertise on narratives and actions to contain terrorism and extremism as they are amazed that these trends are on the rise in other parts of the world while they are on decline in Pakistan. It has been revealed by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Syed Jalil Abbas Jilani while having an exclusive chat with The News here on Monday.

The ambassador had a detailed meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM House where Special Assistant to the PM (SAPM) for Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi and Secretary to the PM (SPM) Fawad Hasan Fawad were also present.

The huddle discussed the ties between Pakistan and the US. Ambassador Jilani said that the US authorities and meetings at the Capitol Hill were inquisitive about Pakistan’s successes against terrorism and extremism during the recent high profile visits from Pakistan, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif.

The US high-ups are praising Pakistan’s unrivaled sacrifices that it has rendered for overcoming the menace of terrorism back home. The ambassador reminded that everybody who matters in the United States is appreciative of new trajectories in the Pakistan’s Foreign Policy, especially with regard to India and Afghanistan.

Pakistan followed a policy of restraint in case of Afghanistan despite provocative stance and harsh attitude by the other side while in the case of India the dividends of the policy were visible early this month when the two countries decided to restore their long-stalled dialogue. Jilani said that the Pakistan-US ties are much ahead of the period when the two capitals had irritants as the interaction between the two sides has improved qualitatively and quantitatively. The two governments have much better understanding of the regional issues.

The ambassador disclosed that the United States is taking serious interest in Pakistan’s energy needs. The United States has commissioned a study for the Diamer Bhasha Dam at the cost of $20 million. The study report would be available in May-June next and subsequently an investors’ conference will be held in Washington. The US could ask for investors to come forward in a big way for investment in the project since it is a win-win situation for all.

The US is already providing assistance to Pakistan in the Dassu Dam Project, the ambassador added. He said that the meeting of the Defence Consultative Groups (DCG) in Washington proved to be yet another achievement in the relations between the two countries. According to the PM House, Ambassador Jalil Jilani briefed the prime minister about the outcome of defence consultative meetings between the US and Pakistan. The ambassador will join high echelon consultations in the Foreign Office during his stay here during the next two or three days.

In the meanwhile, sources said that Pakistan would continue to work for further improvement of ties with the United States. The sources hinted that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be visiting US in March next when he will be attending the Nuclear Security Summit to be held in Washington.

It is expected that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be attending it. US President Barack Obama has formally invited Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to attend the summit. The formal decision pertaining to the visit would be made next month, the sources added.