Strengthening ties: US State Secretary to meet top Pakistani officials today

With the aim to strengthen bilateral ties between America and Pakistan, United States (US) Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will meet top officials after he arrives in Islamabad today, as part of his tour to the Gulf regions and South Asia.

Tillerson is visiting Pakistan on Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif’s invitation. During his visit, Tillerson will meet senior Pakistani leaders and discuss bilateral relations between the two countries .

The Secretary will build on the positive conversations he and US Vice President Mike Pence have had with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi during his visit to US on September 19. During the meeting, they had agreed to stay ‘engaged with a constructive approach to achieve shared objectives of peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region’.

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On Tuesday, Tillerson and the officials will also be discussing Pakistan’s cooperation in fighting terrorists and driving them out from hideouts, which is vital for a good relationship with the US.

Local media reported that during his visit to Afghanistan on Monday, Tillerson warned Pakistan that Islamabad should stop providing safe haven to terrorists within its borders. “Pakistan needs to, I think, take a clear-eyed view of the situation that they are confronted with in terms of the number of terrorist organisations that find safe haven inside of Pakistan. So we want to work closely with Pakistan to create a more stable and secure Pakistan,” he told the reporters.

Tillerson’s visit to Pakistan follows the policy speech he made regarding America’s growing strategic relations with India and US President Donald Trump's move to offer a bigger say for India in war-torn Afghanistan.

Earlier in August, Tillerson warned Pakistan that if it continued to provide safe haven to Afghan militant groups, it would lose its status as a privileged military ally. Pakistan, however, has denied the allegations, saying that it does not host terror groups fighting the US and Afghan forces in Afghanistan.

The relation between the countries changed considerably when Pakistan rescued the hostage American-Canadian couple. “[We are] starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts,” US president had tweeted.

After Pakistan, Tillerson will fly to India today (Tuesday) evening after daylong engagements in Islamabad.

Pakistan’s critical role in the success of our South Asia strategy, and the expanding economic ties between our two countries. The Secretary will build on the positive conversations he and the Vice President have had with Prime Minister Abbasi.