ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the United States is a vital component of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
The premier made these remarks in a meeting on Monday with the US Secretary of State John Kerry, who earlier arrived in Islamabad on a two-day visit to have meetings with Pakistan’s political and military leadership and also to lead a US delegation in the ministerial meeting of Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue.
During the meeting with John Kerry, the prime minister appreciated the US President Barack Obama’s message of friendship and cooperation in the aftermath of Peshawar terror attack on December 16.
Sharif also highlighted Pakistan’s focus on greater market access for Pakistani products and the US investment in Pakistan for creating job opportunities. He expressed the hope that next Business Opportunities Conference to be held in Islamabad in March this year will receive good response from US investors.
The prime minister also appreciated US support for Dasu and Diamer-Bhasha dam projects.
On the occasion, the US secretary of state expressed his country’s resolve to continue supporting Pakistan in effectively combating challenges including terrorism.
John Kerry extended condolences of the US government and people on the tragic Peshawar incident, and said that terrorists are the common enemy of the two countries.
Pakistan, US hold first round of strategic dialogue in Islamabad
Meanwhile, the first round of discussions under the Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue was held in Islamabad on Monday evening.
The Pakistani delegation was led by the advisor to the prime minister on national security and foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz while the US side was led by the secretary of state John Kerry.
Further in-depth discussions, covering the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest, will continue on Tuesday.
The ministerial meeting, the second since the revitalized Strategic Dialogue was announced during Kerry’s August 2013 visit to Pakistan, serves to advance shared interests in a stable, secure, and prosperous Pakistan and acknowledge the US-Pakistan partnership’s role in promoting regional and international security.
