Pakistan, US for strong trade, investment relationship

Pakistan and the United States on Tuesday emphasized the need for a strong trade and investment relationship to advancing the shared vision for a long-term, broad-based and enduring partnership. The visiting US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells called on Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood at the Foreign Office and discussed wide range of bilateral issues, including political engagement and economic partnership.

"It was emphasized that a strong trade and investment relationship is key to advancing the shared vision of the leadership of both countries for a long-term, broad-based and enduring partnership," Foreign Office said in a statement after the meeting.

It stated that the foreign secretary highlighted the grave human rights and humanitarian situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K), intensified ceasefire violations from the Indian side, belligerent rhetoric of the Indian civil and military figures, and India's aggressive measures along the LoC. The importance of the international community playing its role in peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was emphasized, it added.

The two sides also discussed recent developments regarding the Afghan peace and reconciliation process. The foreign secretary reaffirmed Pakistan's resolve to continue supporting the peace process and pursuing positive development of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. Referring to the foreign minister's recent visits to Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United States, and his telephone conversations with other foreign ministers, it stated that the foreign secretary underscored that Pakistan remained committed to supporting the efforts for de-escalation of tensions and promoting the prospects of a diplomatic way forward on the differences and disputes in the Middle East.

Accompanied by US Ambassador to Pakistan Paul Jones, the visiting US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs also held meeting with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Petroleum Nadeem Babar earlier in the day.

Nadeem Babar welcomed Alice Wells to Pakistan and gave her an overview of Pakistan's energy sector, said a press release of the Petroleum Division. It stated that the special assistant highlighted recent reforms undertaken by the government which have led to a quantum improvement in ease of doing business in the country and new investment opportunities in the energy sector.

He also called for greater US cooperation in tapping Pakistan's shale reserves as well as investments in LNG infrastructure development, renewable energy and other avenues.

It stated that Wells expressed satisfaction on her recent meetings in the country and the momentum in bilateral relations. She stressed the need for increasing cooperation in renewable energy with a focus on wind energy.

It added that the top US diplomat was positive on future energy cooperation between Pakistan and the United States and foresaw an increase in exchanges in the area of energy. Both sides agreed to maintain such contacts and cooperate on a mutually beneficial basis, it added.

Earlier in the day, Alice Wells addressed a roundtable at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) highlighted the importance of a long-term, broad-based and enduring partnership between Pakistan and the US.

The top US diplomat also met with Chairman Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Rana Tanveer Hussain and exchanged views on issues of mutual interests and parliamentary oversights on the public expenditures.

Alice Wells arrived here on Sunday on a four-day (January 19-22) visit to hold talks with senior government officials on bilateral and regional issues.