The Foreign Office on Thursday said that Pakistan-US ties have been 'reset' after Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Washington DC and the two sides want to move forward on the basis of mutual respect. Spokesperson Foreign Office Dr Mohammad Faisal told his weekly media briefing that there was no mention of 'do more' mantra during talks with the Trump administration and the two sides have decided to establish a mechanism to follow up the understanding reached during the visit.
"It should be registered that the Pakistan-US relations have been reset," he said while commenting on the Prime Minister Khan's recent visit to the US and his talks with President Donald Trump. Commenting on Prime Minister Khan's interview in which he had stated that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) helped American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to trace and kill al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Ladin, the spokesperson insisted that the Prime Minister, in his interview, was referring to the initial information shared by the ISI with the CIA.
"We were right then and are right now by saying that the initial lead was provided to the US," he insisted. However, when pressed whether he also denied that ISI helped CIA in the Abbottabad operation in which the US in a unilateral action killed the al-Qaeda leader on May 2, 2011, the spokesperson stated: "I neither deny nor confirm...it is up to the ISI to comment on this."
Dr Faisal pointed out that Prime Minister Khan and President Trump held comprehensive talks focusing on building a broad-based and enduring partnership between the two countries and strengthening cooperation to bring peace, stability and economic prosperity in South Asia. He also declined to comment on any possibility of prisoners exchange between Pakistan and the US especially Dr Shakil Afridi and Dr Aafia Siqqidui, saying that he is unable to add to what the Prime Minister has already stated on the subject.
Responding to a question, he said that Pakistan welcomes US President Donald Trump's offer of mediation on the Kashmir dispute. However, he expressed surprise over Indian reaction to the mediation offer, saying that India should give a matured response for resolution of the outstanding dispute.
"Pakistan's approach is peace and dialogue based for resolution of the dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of Kashmiri people," he added.
About the violations on the Line of Control (LoC) by India, he said that Pakistan gives a befitting response to the Indian fire. He, however, said that Pakistan desires peace and the 2003 ceasefire agreement must be respected. When asked about the next meeting on Kartarpur Corridor, he said that Pakistan is prepared for talks, adding that the Indian side has to give the dates for the next meeting on the corridor. He expressed the hope that a meeting will soon be held.
Responding to another query about a dialogue between the Taliban and the US, he said that Pakistan's role has been that of a facilitator which has been acknowledged by everybody including the US. He said, "We want an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned solution to the conflict." To a question if there is any possibility of reimbursement of the suspended outstanding amount under the head of Coalition Support Fund (CSF), the spokesperson stated that he would not go into details on the specifics of the talks held between Pakistan and the US, adding that there is an agreement of both the sides on the intent to move forward.
Asked whether the new shift in the Pakistan-US relations will adversely affect the country's ties with China and Iran, he stated that Pakistan's relations with the US will not affect its ties with any other country.
To another query about attacks on the oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, the spokesperson said that Pakistan is watching the developments in the region very closely, adding that security of commercial and shipping supply lines in the Strait of Hormuz and beyond is very important and critical. He also called upon all the parties to work towards easing the tension in the region.