US not pushing Pakistan on N Waziristan operation: Af-Pak envoy
Grossman stresses US-Pak relations should be based on mutual respect and more focused on economic collaboration.
ISLAMABAD:
US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman has said that America is not pushing Pakistan to launch a military operation in North Waziristan, Radio Pakistan reported on Saturday.
After arriving in Islamabad on Saturday for talks with political and military leaders on "issues of bilateral and mutual concern", Grossman told the state television in an interview that any decision for an operation will be taken by Pakistan.
Talking about US-Pak relations, he said that both countries have multifaceted relations, which were improving daily. He added that relations between the US and Pakistan should be based on mutual respect.
Calling for relations to be further focused on economic collaborations, Grossman said trade between the two counties was improving with 20 per cent of Pakistani products being exported to the US.
He called for further investment in Pakistan by US companies.
Responding to a question on bilateral relations, Grossman said he doesn't believe that the relationship between the two countries was transactional since Pakistan was the biggest beneficiary of the Fulbright scholarship programme and that the United States was also providing assistance in the energy sector.
He said that Pakistan and US were making efforts for regional peace and for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
Grossman's visit takes place amid growing opposition in the country to continued US drone strikes.
"It is a bilateral visit. Grossman will hold talks with political and military leaders and discuss all matters of mutual interests," US embassy spokeswoman Rian Harris had told AFP earlier, without giving further details.
Foreign ministry spokesman Moazzam Ahmad Khan had told reporters last week "the visit is part of the ongoing engagements", which will enable the two sides to "discuss all issues of mutual interest as well as concern".
US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman has said that America is not pushing Pakistan to launch a military operation in North Waziristan, Radio Pakistan reported on Saturday.
After arriving in Islamabad on Saturday for talks with political and military leaders on "issues of bilateral and mutual concern", Grossman told the state television in an interview that any decision for an operation will be taken by Pakistan.
Talking about US-Pak relations, he said that both countries have multifaceted relations, which were improving daily. He added that relations between the US and Pakistan should be based on mutual respect.
Calling for relations to be further focused on economic collaborations, Grossman said trade between the two counties was improving with 20 per cent of Pakistani products being exported to the US.
He called for further investment in Pakistan by US companies.
Responding to a question on bilateral relations, Grossman said he doesn't believe that the relationship between the two countries was transactional since Pakistan was the biggest beneficiary of the Fulbright scholarship programme and that the United States was also providing assistance in the energy sector.
He said that Pakistan and US were making efforts for regional peace and for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
Grossman's visit takes place amid growing opposition in the country to continued US drone strikes.
"It is a bilateral visit. Grossman will hold talks with political and military leaders and discuss all matters of mutual interests," US embassy spokeswoman Rian Harris had told AFP earlier, without giving further details.
Foreign ministry spokesman Moazzam Ahmad Khan had told reporters last week "the visit is part of the ongoing engagements", which will enable the two sides to "discuss all issues of mutual interest as well as concern".