Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with the United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday and updated him on the steps taken by Pakistan in compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF), as the global watchdog on money laundering and terrorist financing is meeting in Orlando, United States, from June 16-21, 2019.
The FATF Working Group and Plenary meetings are being held at the Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive from June 16-21, 2019, Orlando, the United States.
According to Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal, Foreign Minister Qureshi, who is currently in London, held a telephonic conversation with Secretary Pompeo and discussed with him the measures taken by Pakistan in compliance with FATF, besides discussing issues of mutual interests, bilateral relations and security situation of the region.
He said that the foreign minister also appraised the US secretary of state of the important measures undertaken by the government of Pakistan under the National Action Plan (NAP).
Qureshi further updated Pompeo that to prevent money laundering and terror financing, the federal government, under the supervision of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), has strengthened the internal control of banking and non-banking monetary institutions, insurance companies and stock exchanges.
Referring to the ongoing efforts for Afghan peace process, Qureshi asserted that a peaceful Afghanistan is imperative for the peace in the entire region as well as for regional development.
While discussing Pakistan''s role as facilitator, both the leaders also agreed to continue mutual cooperation for the restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan, as the foreign minister pointed out that there has been a continuous increase in mutual agreement on issues concerning the two countries. "Bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and United States is very important for regional peace and stability," Qureshi was quoted by the spokesperson to have told Pompeo during his telephonic conversation.
In his conversation, the foreign minister further pointed out that the recent meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of OIC Summit in Saudi Arabia, the recently held first review meeting of Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) in Islamabad and the expected visit of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to Pakistan, are indicative of increased multidimensional contacts between the two countries.