As Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held meetings with senior US Administration officials including Secretary of State John Kerry here late Wednesday, there was a strong desire from both the sides to further strengthen and turn their bilateral ties into a deep and enduring multi-faceted partnership.
"During the important meetings there appeared an impression as well as the desire from both sides that Pak-US relationship should not be security-centric alone, rather it should base on deep and enduring multi-faceted partnership," Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry said while briefing the newsmen about the Prime Minister's back-to-back meetings with senior US officials.
Besides the meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry, the Prime Minister also held meetings with Senate and House Foreign Affairs Committees, Secretaries of Treasury and Energy, MD IMF. The Prime Minister also addressed a business forum organised by Pak-US Business Council, he added. The Foreign Secretary said during the meeting with John Kerry, the two sides discussed counter-terrorism measures, the prospects of peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan as well as the situation in South Asia.
John Kerry, he said, appreciated Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts as well as its role as a facilitator in advancing the reconciliation process in Afghanistan. It was agreed to continue co-operation to tackle challenges in the region.
Regarding the situation in South Asia, the Foreign Secretary said, Prime Minister Sharif, who wanted peace in South Asia informed the US side about his "peace initiative" he had announced during the annual UN General Assembly session last month. During the meeting, concern was expressed over the cease-fire violations by India at the Line of Control, he added. The Foreign Secretary said during the meeting with Kerry, the issue of Indian involvement to destabilise Pakistan was also discussed, and Advisor to the PM on National Security Sartaj Aziz also presented him a copy of three dossiers, which he had already given to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon last month.
"With the tone and tenor being good in the meeting, the two sides desired to further strengthen their bilateral relations", he remarked. During the Prime Minister's meeting with IMF team, the Foreign Secretary said the government's policy of economic and financial reforms was appreciated, which also led to improvement in economy. He said during the meetings with secretaries of treasury and energy, the US side expressed their satisfaction over the economic revival in Pakistan.
The Foreign Secretary said during the meetings with Senate and House Foreign Affairs Committees, the Prime Minister apprised them about Pakistan's successes in the fight against terrorism and how Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) were being rehabilitated. During the meetings with US Senators and Congressmen, the situation in region vis a vis Afghanistan and India as well as the counter-terrorism efforts were also discussed, he said adding the meetings remained positive and productive, as Pakistan presented its point of view on different issues at the highest level.
Responding to a question, the Foreign Secretary described as "speculation" some media reports about the discussion with US side on Pakistan's nuclear programme. He, however, added, Pakistan and the United States were already having a dialogue on nuclear matters, which would continue. To a question, the Foreign Secretary said the United States expressed its confidence over the effective Command and Control structure Pakistan had to safeguard its nuclear arsenal. About counter-terrorism measures being taken by Pakistan, he said, there was no talk of 'do more.' "Pakistan has done a lot, and now it is time for the world to do more," he remarked.