ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday emphasised that Pakistan and the United States needed to deepen engagement to promote peace, stability and economic development in Afghanistan.
Referring to the evolving situation in Afghanistan, he particularly underscored that there was an urgent need to financially assist the Afghan people as part of the effort to prevent a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse.
The prime minister said this while speaking to the Chairman of US House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC), Congressman Gregory Meeks and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Non-Proliferation, Congressman Ami Bera who called on him.
The premier hoped that ways and means would be found to address the liquidity issue and enable banking channels to help Afghanistan sustain its immediate economic burden and challenges.
The Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee HFAC (@HouseForeign) , Congressman @RepGregoryMeeks called on Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI. He was accompanied by Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Non-Proliferation, Congressman Ami Bera (@RepBera) pic.twitter.com/xXRiI3XUtK
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) November 22, 2021
He welcomed both Congressmen’s visit to Pakistan and hoped that it will not only lead to further deepening of Pakistan-United States relations but will also be instrumental in strengthening ties between Parliaments of the two countries.
The Prime Minister expressed the hope that more high-level exchanges, at all tiers including the administration, will take place between both countries reinforcing their ties.
Both sides maintained that Pakistan and United States should work to strengthen bilateral trade and economic relationship as well as co-operation in health, security, counter-terrorism, and combating climate change.
The delegation also met Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
The foreign minister underscored that Pakistan valued its longstanding relationship with the United States and wanted to further deepen and widen this relationship.
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Qureshi too hoped that more high-level exchanges will take place between both countries strengthening people-to-people ties between them.
“Pakistan is pursuing imperatives of geo-economics and is determined to make the country a hub of trade, investment, and finance,” he added inviting US companies to invest in Pakistan’s IT and Health sectors- apart from reaping dividends from other growing sectors.
Both Congressmen maintained that, given Pakistan’s potential and the size of its 220 million plus consumer market, US companies were keen to invest in Pakistan.
The foreign minister further underscored Pakistan’s commitment to peace, stability and progress in Afghanistan.
In this regard, Qureshi highlighted Pakistan’s continuing efforts for facilitating humanitarian assistance and economic support to Afghanistan given the twin challenges being faced by the Afghan people. T
He hoped that the international community will expeditiously extend finical assistance to Afghanistan enabling the country to meet its compelling needs.
Congressman Meeks deeply appreciated Pakistan’s role in the evacuation of US and Afghan nationals, as well as Special Immigrant Visa Holders (SIVs) from Afghanistan and hoped that the two countries will widen their engagement to stabilize Afghanistan.
The foreign minister maintained that Pakistan was firmly committed to promote peace and security in South Asia enabling the region to realize its immense potential and hoped that the US will support Pakistan’s endeavors in that regard.
