Nawaz in Washington: US shows keenness to improve relations

State Department asks Congress to resume more than $300m in security assistance to Pakistan.

WASHINGTON:

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday signalled his country’s willingness to strengthen bilateral ties with Islamabad under the revived mechanism of the strategic dialogue.

The remarks came as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif embarked on his first trip to the United States in his third term of office by holding talks with the State Department’s highest functionary in Washington.

“We have a lot to talk about and the relationship with Pakistan could not be more important,” Kerry said at the start of the meeting, calling Pakistan a “democracy that is working hard to get its economy moving and deal with insurgency while also being important to the regional stability.”

According to a State Department statement, Monday’s discussions covered a broad range of domestic and regional issues including peace and security, counter-terrorism cooperation, collaboration on Pakistan’s energy sector, increasing bilateral trade and investment and the common interest of a secure, stable Afghanistan.



“Both sides agreed on the importance of our continued counter terrorism cooperation, and that extremism is countered in part by opportunities arising from greater economic stability. To that end, the US, Pakistan’s largest trading partner, remains committed to an economic relationship increasingly based on trade and investment,” the statement said.

Earlier, the US secretary of state hosted a dinner in honour of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his delegation at the State Department, soon after his arrival in the US capital.

Senior administration officials including Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, National Security Advisor Susan Rice, CIA director John Brennan and Special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan James Dobbins assisted the Secretary of State.

On the occasion, the prime minister reiterated his determination to revive the economy and improve the law and order situation in Pakistan. Outlining his vision for promoting peace and stability in the region, Nawaz underscored the need for the two countries to work together in meeting the common challenges of extremism and terrorism.

Welcoming the premier, Kerry expressed confidence that the visit would provide the necessary stimulus to further deepen and expand US-Pakistan relations. Kerry stressed that the US would work with the newly elected democratic government in all areas of bilateral relations under the revived mechanism of the strategic dialogue.

He voiced appreciation for the bold decisions taken by PM Nawaz for reviving the economy and overcoming energy shortages.

The prime minister is scheduled to meet President Barack Obama on Wednesday.

In his meeting with Obama‚ Nawaz is expected to call for an end to the US drone strikes in Pakistani tribal areas, express the country’s views on Afghan security situation beyond 2014.

Bilateral ties

Separately the US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Trade Representative Michael Froman called on the prime minister and discussed bilateral cooperation. The meetings are part of a series of interactions between top United States officials  and the premier.

Signalling rapprochement

In a move that may herald an improvement in an often frail relationship between the two countries, the State Department asked Congress to resume more than $300 million in blocked security assistance to Pakistan as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reached Washington. “This is part of a long process of restarting security assistance cooperation after implementation was slowed during the bilateral challenges of 2011 and 2012,” said State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf as she briefed media on the request for resumption of security assistance.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2013.