Pak, US NSAs discuss Afghan situation

WASHINGTON: Pakistan's National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf met with his American counterpart Jake Sullivan here on Thursday and discussed Afghanistan, regional security and issues of mutual concern.

This was the second time the two men sat together since the Biden administration took charge in January this year. Before this, they had met in Geneva in late May. Many details of the meeting on Thursday were not shared with the media except brief statements from both sides on social media confirming their meeting.

"I met with Pakistan's NSA today to consult on regional connectivity and security, and other areas of mutual cooperation," said Jake Sullivan on his twitter account adding that the two had "discussed the urgent need for a reduction in violence in Afghanistan and a negotiated political settlement to the conflict."

Calling the interaction positive, Moeed Yusuf declared that the meeting "took stock of progress made since our Geneva meeting and discussed bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest." He further said that the two sides have agreed to sustain the momentum in Pakistan-US bilateral cooperation. Moeed Yusuf, who arrived in Washington earlier this week, will also meet with US lawmakers, address members of the Pakistani diaspora and local think tanks in coming days.

Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said "Pakistan has a vital role to play in using its influence with the Taliban to do whatever it can to make sure that the Taliban does not seek to take (Afghanistan) by force." Speaking to the Indian press on Thursday, Blinken added that it (Pakistan) does have influence, and it does have a role to play, and the US hopes that Pakistan plays it.