Pak-US ties: Nawaz to meet Obama on Oct 23

NEW YORK/ ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will undertake his first bilateral visit to the United States next month and will meet President Barack Obama on October 23 following the formal invitation extended to him by US Secretary of State John Kerry on behalf of Obama on Thursday.

Premier Nawaz Sharif and Secretary Kerry met in New York on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly session, said a statement issued here by the foreign ministry.

It said Secretary Kerry extended an invitation to the Prime Minister from President Obama to visit Washington.

According to the statement, Nawaz will travel to Washington on October 23 where he would have first bilateral meeting with President Obama since his historic victory in the May 11 elections.

Diplomatic sources said Pakistan was keen to arrange meeting between Sharif and Obama on the margins of the UN session. Although, the White House agreed for a meeting but made it clear that Obama could only spare 20 minutes for summit talks.

Washington also gave another option to Islamabad that Nawaz Sharif could undertake a bilateral tour by the end of October or November.

Sources said Nawaz preferred the second option as he wanted to have detailed talks with Obama on a range of issues from bilateral engagements to regional developments.

During the meeting with Nawaz Sharif, Secretary Kerry hoped that high-level interaction between the two sides would provide the necessary impetus to move towards a long term Pakistan-US engagement.

Foreign office said the two sides reviewed the state of bilateral relationship and agreed to intensify the engagements in the coming weeks and months to further expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in all areas.  It was also agreed to convene meetings of the various Working Groups under the revived Strategic Dialogue mechanism.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister noted that improvement in security, revival of economy and overcoming the energy crisis were the key priorities of his government.

He also emphasised that greater trade between Pakistan and the US would contribute to the economic prosperity of the people of Pakistan and help in evolving a mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement, “the president looks forward to discussions with Prime Minister Sharif on ways we can advance our shared interest of a stable, secure, and prosperous Pakistan.”

After the 33-minute comprehensive meeting with PM Nawaz, Senator Kerry, while talking to The Express Tribune said “the meeting was good and we are looking forward for Prime Minster Sharif’s visit to Washington next month.” He added that PM Nawaz had confirmed his date of visit whereas he said the Pakistani contingent will be releasing the details of the meeting. “We are looking towards a better tomorrow. He (PM Nawaz) is better suited to steering his nation out of all its problems.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2013.