NSA, DG ISI leave for crucial US trip

They will hold talks with US officials amid efforts to reset ties with Washington

ISLAMABAD:

National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr Moeed Yusuf on Monday left for a crucial visit to the United States as part of efforts by Pakistan to reset fragile relationship with Washington.

DG ISI Lt General Faiz Hameed will also accompany the NSA during his visit to US, sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune.

The NSA office confirmed Moeed's visit and said during his stay he would hold talks with his US counterpart Jake Sullivan and other senior officials of the Biden administration.

His visit is part of high-level bilateral engagements between the two countries, which were agreed between him and his counterpart Sullivan in their last meeting in Geneva on May 24, said an official statement.

During the visit, the NSA will meet Sullivan to review the progress on the bilateral engagement.

He will also meet other US legislators, senior officials besides interacting with the Pakistani-American community, US think-tanks, media among others.

Also read: Pakistan desires good ties with US, Afghanistan: NSA

The statement said his 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.

Relations between Pakistan and the US have remained transactional but Islamabad has been pushing for ties that go beyond security and Afghanistan.

However, US administration has not yet given a positive response to Pakistan’s efforts as President Biden has not even spoken to Prime Minister Imran khan.

Nevertheless, 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.