MONITORING DESK: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that Pakistan and the United States are old time partners in war against terrorism.
In his meeting with the US Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York, the prime minister said Pakistan had sacrificed a lot in war against terrorism, adding that both Pakistan and the United States had been working closely in the region and they partnership had been decades-long.
In his remarks, the US Vice President said the United States valued its relationship with Pakistan and wished to work closely with it in the region.
Mike Pence said in reference to new US policy for South Asia under President Donald Trump, the United States wished to work with Pakistan in the region.
Meanwhile, according to a press release issued in Islamabad, the Foreign Office said the meeting between Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the US Vice President Mike Pence was held in a cordial atmosphere in New York.
The Foreign Office said both sides discussed issues relating to bilateral relationship as well as peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region. It said the prime minister shared Pakistan’s concerns and views with regard to the US strategy for South Asia.
Both sides agreed to work together to carry forward the relationship which has been a historic partnership for the last seven decades.
It was agreed that the two Countries would stay engaged with a constructive approach to achieve shared objectives of peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region, the Foreign Office said.
Met w/ Pakistani PM Abbasi at @UN. Reiterated @POTUS‘ belief that “Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort” in the region. pic.twitter.com/kTEiSyrZp8
— Vice President Pence (@VP) September 19, 2017
Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua while talking to media representatives after 45-minute long sideline meeting between Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the US Vice President Mike Pence termed the progress made at the meeting as an “ice-breaker”.
It may be mentioned that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is in New York to address UN General Assembly and will not have meeting with US President Donald Trump as the United States had no time in his schedule to meet the Pakistani premier.
Pakistan and the United States are going through a bump patch of their diplomatic relations after the US President Donald Trump accused Pakistan for housing terrorists during in August speech. President Trump in his speech had said India would play pivotal role in South Asia as strategic partner of the United States and would actively involve in Afghan issues.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan had been the focal Country of the US in Afghan war since Afghan Jihad started in 1979.
