ISLAMABAD: A delegation of US Congressmen have appreciated role of Pakistan in the Afghan situation, special efforts for effective border management and role in regional stability.
The delegation led by Congressman Gregory Weldon Meeks, Chairman House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC), USA and Congressman Amerish Babulal Bera, Members HFAC (Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia Pacific, Central Asia and Non-proliferation) had called on General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
The Congressmen pledged to play their part for further improvement in diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels.
Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said Pakistan desires to maintain the tradition of bilateral engagement with all the regional players for enduring peace in the region.
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He reiterated the need for global convergence on Afghanistan for avoiding humanitarian crisis and coordinated efforts for economic uplift of the Afghan people. He re-emphasised that “Peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan”.
During the meetings, matters of mutual interest, current security situation in Afghanistan and bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed.
Earlier the delegation also met Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad.
Talking to the Congress members, Imran Khan emphasised that Pakistan and the United States need to deepen engagement to promote peace, stability and economic development in Afghanistan.
The PM particularly underscored that there is an urgent need to financially assist the Afghan people as part of the effort to prevent a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse.
He also hoped that visit of both the Congressmen will not only lead to further deepening of Pakistan-United States relations but will be instrumental in strengthening ties between parliaments of the two countries.
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.
Later, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi welcomed the US Congressmen at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.
The foreign minister underscored that Pakistan values its longstanding relationship with the United States and wants to further deepen and widen this relationship.
He emphasised that Pakistan is pursuing imperatives of geo-economics and is determined to make the country a hub of trade, investment, and finance. He invited US companies to invest in Pakistan’s IT and Health sectors- apart from reaping dividends from other growing sectors.
Both the congressmen maintained that US companies are keen to invest in Pakistan.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi underlined Pakistan’s commitment to peace, stability and progress in Afghanistan. He highlighted Pakistan’s continuing efforts for facilitating humanitarian assistance and economic support to Afghanistan.
“I hope that the international community will expeditiously extend finical assistance to Afghanistan enabling the country to meet its compelling needs,” he said.
Congressman Meeks deeply appreciated Pakistan’s role in the evacuation of the US and Afghan nationals from Afghanistan and hoped that the two countries will widen their engagement to stabilise Afghanistan.
Apprising the delegation about the egregious human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), FM Qureshi hoped that the US Congress will play its due role in raising voice for the rights of the Kashmiri people.
