ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has termed the recent visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Washington successful as it helped Pakistan remove concerns of the US.
Sharif paid a four-day official visit to Washington from October 20 to 23 during which he met the top US leadership including President Barack Obama and discussed a whole range of issues pertaining to bilateral cooperation and regional security.
In an interview, Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan-US relations are now on an upward trajectory as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s recent visit had laid foundation for a multi-dimensional relationship with the United States.
The advisor said that the visit would help broaden the Pak-US ties beyond security issues to economy, trade, energy, defence and education cooperation.
In his meeting with the US president on October 22, Sharif apprised President Obama about Pakistan’s resolve to take effective action against United Nations-designated terrorist individuals and entities including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its affiliates.
Sartaj Aziz said that the US was appreciative of the effective counter terrorism policy of Pakistan.
To a query about handing over of three dossiers to the US Secretary of State John Kerry, Sartaj Aziz said that the main purpose was to inform the international community about India’s subversive activities in Pakistan and inform them that terrorism is not only India’s concern but it is Pakistan’s concern also.
The advisor said that Pakistan was ready for dialogue but India was putting undue preconditions which was unacceptable.
Moreover, talking about the nuclear and tactical weapons issue, he said that the US side was told that Pakistan’s nuclear programme is safe as it was under a proper Command and Control System.
