Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue review scheduled for January 27

The meeting will review progress achieved in the five working groups, other proposals, opportunities for partnership.

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Friday confirmed that the Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue ministerial meeting will take place in Washington on January 27. 

A press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs read that the Advisor to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz will lead the senior level delegation for the dialogue with his US counterpart, Secretary of State John Kerry.

The ministerial meeting is expected to review progress achieved in the five working groups and discuss concrete proposals and opportunities for partnership in diverse areas of bilateral cooperation, including strategic stability, defence, energy, economic growth, law-enforcement and counter-terrorism.

The foreign office added that Pakistan hopes to use the opportunity to highlight priorities for economic development, including expansion of trade and investment.

Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue provides a framework for discussions on a wide range of issues of mutual interest and focus on enhancing cooperation on issues of mutual concern.

The ministerial meeting will review the progress achieved in the five working groups and discuss concrete proposals and opportunities for partnership in diverse areas of bilateral cooperation, including strategic stability, defence, energy, economic growth, law-enforcement and counter-terrorism.

Earlier, the decision to restart high-level talks, covering issues from security to economy, was taken after visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry held a series of meetings with the top Pakistani civil and military leadership.

Kerry met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and held formal talks with his Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. He separately met army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Inter Services Intelligence Director General Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam and President Asif Ali Zardari as well.

Speaking to reporters alongside Aziz, Secretary Kerry described his talks as ‘positive and constructive’ and announced the two countries would resume strategic dialogue.