ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday stressed the need for enhancing bilateral parliamentary and diplomatic cooperation between Pakistan and the United States (US) to promote the shared objectives of peace, stability and economic development in Afghanistan.
PM Imran shared these views after a four-member delegation of the US Senate, comprising Senators Angus King, Richard Burr, John Cornyn and Benjamin Sasse, called on him in Islamabad. Senator King is also a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee of the US.
Warmly welcoming the senators, PM Imran hoped that the visits of Congressional delegations will help strengthen mutual understanding and forge closer people-to-people contacts.
The prime minister underlined that Pakistan valued its long-standing relationship with the US and was committed to expanding it in all spheres, particularly in the economic dimension.
He reiterated that a deeper and stronger partnership between the two countries was mutually beneficial and critical for the region’s peace, security and prosperity.
The premier particularly underscored the urgent need to support the Afghan people by taking all possible measures to prevent a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse. He also highlighted the importance of closer cooperation to address the security threats in the region, including terrorism.
Apprising the delegation about the continuation of egregious human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the prime minister underscored that the extremist and exclusionist policies of the RSS-inspired BJP were posing a threat to regional peace and security.
He stressed that the US must play its role in the maintenance of peace and stability in the region. The prime minister underscored that, for its part, Pakistan remained ready to pursue measures that would reinforce peace, stability and prosperity in the region, if the enabling environment was created by India.
Recalling the collective struggles of Pakistan and the US over the decades in promoting peace and security globally, the senators deeply appreciated Pakistan’s recent contribution in evacuation of the American nationals and others from Afghanistan post-15 August.
They reaffirmed their commitment to a stable and broad-based Pakistan-US bilateral relationship. They emphasized that, given the size of Pakistan’s population as well as its geo-strategic location, the US and Pakistan should make determined efforts to promote trade, investment and economic cooperation.
The premier’s statement has come on the heels of Pakistan’s decision to skip the summit on democracy convened by US President Joe Biden on December 9 and 10, which experts believe could entail serious implications for the already strained relations between the two countries.
Offering rare praise, the opposition parties have welcomed the PTI government’s decision to decline the US’ invitation to its summit, underscoring that Pakistan’s friendship with China cemented unity among the political parties of the country.
