US looks forward to working with Imran-led govt: State Dept

State Department says US looks forward to work with the new government for peace in the region

Former cricket star Imran Khan was sworn-in as prime minister of Pakistan on Saturday.

Following Khan's appointment, the US Department of State released a congratulatory statement stressing the importance of the strategic relationship shared by the two countries. "The United States looks forward to working with Pakistan's new civilian government to promote peace and prosperity in Pakistan and the region," spokesperson Heather Nauert said.

We recognize & welcome the newly elected #Pakistan Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI on taking the oath of office. The U.S. looks forward to working with Pakistan’s new civilian government to promote peace and prosperity in Pakistan and the region. https://t.co/47Azuabtqu

— Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) August 18, 2018

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Saturday warmly congratulated Imran Khan on the assumption of office as prime minister.

He hoped that under Khan's leadership, the UN-Pakistan cooperation will be further strengthened in various fields, including the world body's flagship peacekeeping operations around the globe.

"I trust that under your leadership, our cooperation will be deepened and look forward to meeting you in person during the upcoming seventy-third session of the United Nations General Assembly," the UN chief said in a letter that conveyed to PM Imran Khan his "warmest personal regards."

The 193-member Assembly's session is set to open on September 18, while the high-level general debate will begin on September 25. So far, 154 heads of states/government have confirmed their attendance. Pakistan, the secretary-general said, has been UN's "reliable partner", particularly in peacekeeping and via active support of United Nations activities throughout the world.

One of largest contributors of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping, Pakistan currently provides nearly 6,000 military and police personnel to the UN peacekeeping operations in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Mali, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Western Sahara.

Pakistan's UN Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi is co-chairperson of the Group of Troop and Police Contributing Countries to the UN peacekeeping operations, which facilitate an exchange of views on issues of concern to the troop-contributing countries and discussions on responses to the new challenges facing world peace and security.

In his letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, Guterres also said, "The United Nations looks forward to supporting Pakistan, including through joint projects and the United Nations Country Team, in fighting terrorism and violent extremism, achieving sustainable development goals, promoting human rights as well as in other agreed fields."



On Friday, Imran Khan was declared elected as prime minister of Pakistan after he comfortably won the vote in the National Assembly.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has also sent a congratulatory message to Imran Khan on his election as Pakistan's new prime minister.

In the message, Li said that the relationship between China and Pakistan, which enjoy an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, has witnessed healthy and steady development despite the challenges of time and changing international situation.

In recent years, the two countries have deepened political mutual trust, made remarkable achievements in the Belt and Road Initiative, and achieved fruitful results in building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects, which in all have brought tangible benefits to the two countries and their people, Li said.

Li expressed appreciation for Imran Khan's positive remarks on firmly supporting the development of China-Pakistan relations and said that he is willing to establish a sound working relationship and personal friendship with the new prime minister, in a bid to carry on the traditional friendship between China and Pakistan, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, and strive to build the China-Pakistan community of a shared future.

Moreover, the Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Alexey Dedov recently carried a special message from President Putin to newly-elected Prime Minister Imran Khan conveying "wishes to improve relations with Pakistan…(and) foster economic cooperation and people-to-people contact as well." In response, Khan also expressed his keen interest in enhancing ties with Russia, according to an article published by China.org.cn on Saturday.



The United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan congratulated Imran Khan as Pakistan's new prime minister, UAE state news agency WAM reported.

UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, also sent similar congratulations to Imran Khan.

Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli congratulated Imran Khan on his election as the new prime minister of Pakistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. In his congratulatory message to Khan on Saturday, Sharma Oli recalled friendly relations between Nepal and Pakistan while extending his wishes for successful tenure of Khan.

"In the message, the prime minister has also expressed hope that bilateral relations between Nepal and Pakistan will be further strengthened during the tenure of Prime Minister Khan," the ministry said in the press statement.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena also congratulated Imran Khan, who was sworn in as Pakistan's 22nd prime minister in Islamabad.

In a message, Sirisena said he is confident that Khan's leadership would help steer Pakistan towards peace, prosperity and sustainability, as relations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan grow further.

Following is the text of the letter of President Tayyeb Erdogan addressed to Mr. Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, Prime Minister of Pakistan.
“Distinguished Prime Minister, Valuable Brother,
I extend you my heartfelt congratulations upon your election as the Prime Minister of brotherly Pakistan, and wish you success. May Allah the Almighty be your friend and help you in your tenure.
I wholeheartedly believe that our relations, which take their strength from our peerless bonds of fraternity and amity, will develop even further in every field towards the welfare and prosperity of our two peoples. The solidarity that you have displayed and the support that you have extended to us in the recent critical period that our country has been passing through, reinforces our belief that your sapient leadership will help further advance bilateral relations between Turkey and Pakistan to new heights.

On this occasion, i reiterate my best wishes for your personal health and happiness, as well as for the welfare and well-being of the brotherly people of Pakistan.”