Diplomacy: US officials meets Sartaj Aziz

ISLAMABAD: Senator Bob Corker, member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, accompanied by US envoy Richard Olson, called on Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz on Saturday at the Foreign Office. Both sides discussed matters of mutual interest pertaining to bilateral relations and regional issues including the situation in Afghanistan. Aziz expressed satisfaction at the current trajectory of the relationship between Pakistan and the US and hoped that bilateral relations would be further strengthened on the basis of mutual interest and respect. He also underscored the need for greater market access for Pakistani goods in the US market and increase in US investments in Pakistan, especially in the energy sector including construction of large hydro power projects and emphasised that it should be the joint endeavour of both sides to double bilateral trade in the next few years. Sen Corker expressed appreciation for the comprehensive briefing and assured Aziz that the US Congress would continue to support democracy in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2013.