ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran Khan has reiterated that a deeper and stronger partnership between Pakistan and the United States was mutually beneficial and critical for regional peace, security, and prosperity.
Talking to a four-member delegation of the US Senate including Senators Angus King, Richard Burr, John Cornyn, and Benjamin Sasse which met him in Islamabad on Saturday, the prime minister underlined that Pakistan valued its long-standing relationship with the US and was committed to expanding it in all spheres, particularly in the economic dimension.
All four Senators are members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence while Senator King is also a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The prime minister hoped that the visits of Congressional delegations will help strengthen mutual understanding and forge closer people-to-people contacts.
With regard to the evolving situation in Afghanistan, the prime minister emphasized that Pakistan and the US must have a deeper engagement to promote the shared objectives of peace, stability, and economic development.
The prime minister particularly underscored the urgent need to support the Afghan people by taking all possible measures to prevent a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse.
Prime Minister Imran Khan also highlighted the importance of closer cooperation to address the security threats in the region including terrorism. He stressed that the US must play its role in the maintenance of regional peace and stability.
The prime minister underscored that for its part, Pakistan remained ready to pursue measures that would reinforce peace, stability, and prosperity in the region if the enabling environment was created by India.
Apprising the delegation about the continuation of egregious human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), the prime minister underscored that the extremist & exclusionist policies of the RSS-inspired BJP were posing a threat to regional peace and security
Recalling the collective struggles of Pakistan and the US over the decades in promoting peace and security globally, the Senators deeply appreciated Pakistan’s recent contribution in the evacuation of the American nationals and others from Afghanistan post-15 August.
The Senators reaffirmed their commitment to a stable and broad-based Pakistan-US bilateral relationship.
They emphasized that given the size of Pakistan’s population as well as its geo-strategic location, the US and Pakistan should make determined efforts to promote trade, investment, and economic cooperation.
