ISLAMABAD: National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf, at the conclusion of his visit to the United States (US), asserted that Pakistan and US are focusing on “outcomes, not optics”.
Taking to Twitter today (Friday), the PM’s adviser termed his US visit ‘constructive’, saying that relations between the two countries were moving in the right direction. He also gave insight into his engagements, saying that he continued his discussions, which began in Geneva, with his US counterpart Sullivan.
Concluded a constructive visit to US. Besides continuing discussions with @JakeSullivan46 that began in Geneva, engaged with the Hill, think tanks, media, & our diaspora. The Pak-US relationship is moving in the right direction. The focus of both sides is on outcomes, not optics.
— Moeed W. Yusuf (@YusufMoeed) August 6, 2021
Moeed Yusuf, along with Inter-Services Intelligence (IS) Director-General (DG) Lt General Faiz Hameed, was on a visit to the US for talks with their American counterparts on bilateral issues like Afghanistan.
Earlier in July, NSA’s Jake Sullivan and Yusuf met in Geneva which was the first in-person high level contact between the two countries since President Joe Biden assumed office in January.
During his stay in Washington, Yusuf met with senior officials of Biden administration, including Sullivan. He gave interviews to media and held briefings at the Pakistan embassy in the US.
Afghanistan’s security situation was the main point of discussion between the two countries’ officials as a complete withdrawal of US troops from the war-torn country was due in a few weeks.
After meeting with his US counterpart, Yusuf said in a message on Twitter that they discussed “bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.”
Talking about the same meeting, Sullivan posted on Twitter: “We discussed the urgent need for a reduction in violence in Afghanistan and a negotiated political settlement to the conflict.”
Meanwhile, the issue of Afghan refugees came under discussion during the visit as the Pakistan officials had earlier stated that the country was not in a position to host further influx of refugees due to terrorism threat and economic situation and that the settlement for displaced persons should be arranged inside Afghanistan.
However, the US wanted Pakistan, Turkey and their neighbouring countries to keep their borders open for Afghan refugees.
