Pakistan, US agree to continue efforts for peace in the region

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States have agreed to continue efforts to promote the shared objectives of peace and stability in the region and diversify bilateral relations.

The understanding came during the delegation level talks between the two countries in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Additional Secretary (Americas) Aftab Khokher led the Pakistan side while the US delegation was headed by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells.

The Pakistani side emphasized the need to diversify the relationship with particular focus on enhanced economic and trade cooperation and people to people contacts.

The US delegation appreciated the need to strengthen the bilateral relationship with Pakistan which was an important country of the region.

The meeting took stock of the understanding reached between Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to rebuild the relationship based on mutual trust and respect.

Evolving regional situation and peace and stability in Afghanistan were also discussed.

US Ambassador Alice Wells arrived in Pakistan this morning.

Later, in another meeting the Finance Minister Asad Umar said that Pakistan had made huge strides against terrorism in the recent years and it would continue to take all possible steps to root out terror financing and money laundering.

The finance minister was speaking to US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Alice G. Wells.

Both discussed the current state of Pak-US relations with focus on economic cooperation. The overall security situation in the region also came under discussion, according to a press release issued by the finance ministry.

Finance Minister Umar said such visits contribute to enhancing understanding of each other’s point of view on issues of bilateral significance.

He shared with Ms Wells the vision of the PTI government to bring about changes in the economic landscape of the country.

Alice Wells apprised the Minister of the US efforts for regional security and emphasized the importance of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in that regard.

Matters related to international cooperation to curb terror financing also came under discussion.

The finance minister said that Pakistan had made huge strides against terrorism in the recent years and it will continue to take all possible steps to root out terror financing and money laundering.