ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi Monday said that there was lack of sufficient appreciation for Pakistan’s whole hearted efforts, which it was undertaking jointly with the US administration, in countering the threat posed by terrorism.
He was talking to two-member Professional Staff delegation of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) of the US Congress comprising Kristen Marquardt and Sajit Gandhi.
During the meeting, a range of important issues were discussed concerning reduction in US defence and civilian assistance to Pakistan and Congressional hold on some already approved funds were also deliberated upon, said a press release issued here.
Tariq Fatemi noted that the government and people of Pakistan also desired that their sincere efforts and sacrifices in confronting the serious security threats, in an increasingly complex regional situation, should be appreciated, at all levels.
This expectation was more from our friends in the US, who had been our close aides and partners all along on these issues and better understood the nature and complexity of the challenges faced by Pakistan, he added.
He said the delegation’s visit to Pakistan was timely and important as it provided the opportunity to the Congressional Staff Members to exchange views with the concerned authorities in Pakistan on all areas of mutual interest, and assessed the situation on ground concerning Pakistan’s committed efforts on various fronts.
Reiterating the spirit of long standing friendly relations and cooperation that the two countries had enjoyed for many decades, Fatemi noted that frequent and candid exchange of views between Pakistan and US on all issues of mutual interest and concern, was most valuable.
He also briefed the delegation in detail about Pakistan’s continued and sincere efforts together with the US, China and Afghanistan to promote peace in Afghanistan through an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led process.
Fatemi highlighted that Pakistan under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had taken a clear lead in strengthening its relations with the neighbouring countries, with the ultimate objective to achieve regional stability, peace, harmony and prosperity through enhanced economic linkages, connectivity and cooperation.
Pakistan had showed utmost sincerity, in difficult circumstances, in taking action against all terror outfits in the country, for improvement of its relations with India, as well as to contribute positively in the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan, he stressed.
In their remarks, the delegation members noted that US fully recognized that Pakistan had done a great deal in addressing various security challenges, primarily in its own interest.
They reiterated that the efforts by the US to strengthen Pakistan’s capacity in its counterterrorism efforts, through continued provision of military equipment and assistance with approval of the US Congress, was a testimony to strength Pak-US bilateral relations.
They said that the rapidly expanding cooperation in a number of other sectors, including energy, economy, education science and technology, law enforcement and strategic stability, under the Pak-US Strategic Dialogue had put the bilateral relations on a sound footing.
