U.S. influential senators reaffirm anti-terror support to Pakistan

Two influential U.S. senators have reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to work with Pakistan to fight terrorism, support a stable and secure Afghanistan.

Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Carl Levin and Senator Jack Reed, Member, Senate Armed Services Committee, met with Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, and Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the U.S. embassy said.

The Senators, who wrapped their two days of visit on Tuesday, also held consultations with U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson and members of his team.

“The Senators’ visit builds upon a series of recent high-level engagements between the U.S. and Pakistan that seek to identify shared interests and act on them jointly,” the embassy said in a statement.

They also reiterated the U.S. commitment to increase economic opportunity, and strengthen civilian democracy, tolerance, pluralism, and civil society, it added.

The Senators also expressed their condolences for the recent acts of violence that have taken so many lives across the country.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, who received the U.S. senators on Monday, had expressed the hope that the relations between the two countries will be further strengthened in the interest of the region and the world.

He said that Pakistan values its relations with the United States which is its most important economic partner.

The US delegation also called on Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and discussions focused on Pakistan-US bilateral relationship and the evolving regional situation.

Talking about the progress achieved in Pakistan-US ties during the present democratic government’s tenure‚ the Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction that the two countries were able to move forward in a number of mutually beneficial areas.

The Prime Minister also stated that his government is committed to ensure a smooth transition of power after holding free, fair and impartial elections.

He said that elections and power transition would be a historic achievement of the government as this would be the first civilian government to have completed its tenure in the history of Pakistan.

Parliamentary elections are due in few months and the currently assemblies will complete their term in mid-March.

Talking about Afghanistan and the post-withdrawal scenario after 2014, when the US troops withdraw from Afghanistan, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan desires peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Welcoming the re-election of President Barak Obama, the Prime Minister said it will ensure continuity in relations and also appreciated the services of former Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Clinton, and welcomed the nomination of Senator John Kerry as the new Secretary of State.

Senator Karl Levin and Senator Jack Reed said the world was looking with great interest the next general elections in Pakistan, a statement from the PM office said. They said relations between the two countries are on the right track.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=37043

Posted by Tahir Khan on Jan 8 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.