Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday said that Pakistan-US relations have entered into a "very important phase" and the efforts to reset the relationship are witnessing progress. Talking to media persons before leaving for Germany to represent Pakistan in Munich Security Conference, Qureshi said that Pakistan's efforts for restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan are being recognised internationally.
"Pakistan-US relations have entered a very important phase. Instead of pointing fingers at Pakistan, now the US authorities are appreciating Pakistan's role in facilitating the Afghan peace process and the statements coming from Washington are positive and satisfactory," he noted. The foreign minister said that the efforts to reset the relations with the United States are witnessing progress.
In Munich, he said that he would also be meeting with a 19-member delegation of the US Congress including nine senators and 10 members of the House of Representatives, adding he will discuss with them issues of mutual interest. Qureshi said that he would also meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani on the sidelines of the conference to discuss issues of mutual interest, especially the restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
He said that he would also co-chair with Afghan president a panel of discussion on Afghanistan, adding that he would present Pakistan's point of view on the developing situation. The meeting between Qureshi and Ghani in Germany comes at a time when Taliban on Wednesday last announced to have another round to dialogue with the United States in Islamabad on February 18 at the invitation of the government of Pakistan followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Qureshi told a news conference on Wednesday last that Pakistan encourages intra-Afghan dialogue process for restoration of peace, as the Taliban continue to remain reluctant to hold talks with Kabul administration. He said that Pakistan has always supported peace efforts to bring stability in Afghanistan. The foreign minister said that during his stay in Germany, he will meet his counterparts of various countries, including Russia, Germany, Uzbekistan and Canada.
He further said that he is also expected to meet with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini to finalise the Pakistan-EU Strategic Enhancement Plan. The Munich Security Conference, the annual moot on global security policy, will be attended by defence and foreign ministers and security experts from across the world.