NSA Mooed Yusuf discuss security issues with US counterpart

ISLAMABAD: National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr Moeed Yusuf held high-level engagements with his American counterpart Jake Sullivan in Washington.

In a statement, Yusuf said he held a “positive follow-up” after their meeting in Geneva earlier this year in May. He said they “took stock of progress made since our Geneva meeting & discussed bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.” They also agreed to sustain the momentum in Pak-US bilateral cooperation.

Had a positive follow-up meeting with NSA @JakeSullivan46 today in Washington. Took stock of progress made since our Geneva meeting & discussed bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. Agreed to sustain the momentum in Pak-US bilateral cooperation.

— Moeed W. Yusuf (@YusufMoeed) July 30, 2021

United States National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan also issued a statement on the meeting with Moeed Yusuf to “consult on regional connectivity and security, and other areas of mutual cooperation.”

He said they discussed the urgent need for a reduction in violence in Afghanistan and a negotiated political settlement to the conflict.

I met with Pakistan’s NSA today to consult on regional connectivity and security, and other areas of mutual cooperation. We discussed the urgent need for a reduction in violence in Afghanistan and a negotiated political settlement to the conflict.

— Jake Sullivan (@JakeSullivan46) July 30, 2021

Earlier this week, NSA Moeed Yusuf had left for a crucial visit to the United States as part of efforts by Pakistan to reset the fragile relationship with Washington. DG ISI Lt General Faiz Hameed also accompanied him during his visit.

He will also meet other US legislators, senior officials besides interacting with the Pakistani-American community, US think-tanks, media among others. The agenda of the visit includes bilateral ties, Afghanistan and other regional and international issues.

This is Yusuf’s first visit to Washington since he became the NSA. He met the US NSA in Geneva earlier where he shared Pakistan’s “blueprint” seeking broad based cooperation with the US.

The relations between Pakistan and the US have remained transactional but Islamabad has been pushing beyond security and Afghanistan. The US administration has not yet given a positive response as there has been no interaction between Prime Minister Imran Khan ever and US President Joe Biden.

Pakistan is still pushing for the reset in ties as it considers its relationship with the US important despite Islamabad’s deepening ties with China.