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FM arrives in Washington for strategic dialogue |
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WASHINGTON, March 21 (APP): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi flew into Washington Saturday evening for a five-day visit during which he will co-chair US-Pakistan strategic dialogue with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as Islamabad seeks greater American cooperation for development in wide-ranging areas. Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani and State Department officials welcomed the foreign minister.During his stay in Washington, the foreign minister will also meet with some key American lawmakers and interact with the media and members of Pakistani-American community.
He will also attend events marking Pakistan Day at the country’s embassy.
On the Capitol Hill, Qureshi will
meet with members of influential congressional panels including the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee
and apprise them of the strides Islamabad has made in its ongoing
anti-militancy endeavors, officials said.
He will also highlight the sacrifices and economic cost that Pakistanis
have paid in the fight against terrorism in the region, where US has is
hoping for a successful outcome of its Afghan mission.
Pakistani and American officials have said cooperation in areas
including economy, security, education, science and technology and
energy will be among the major subjects at the March 24 strategic
dialogue.
Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
and senior officials including advisers and secretaries of various
ministeries will form the Pakistani delegation at the discussion.
The US side will include Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman
Joint Chiefs Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and senior officials from a host
of relevant departments.
The US-Pakistan strategic dialogue will be the first under the Obama
administration and takes place in the backdrop of some vigorous and
successful Pakistani anti-militant actions.
Over the past one year, Pakistan has cleared Swat valley of Taliban
militants, launched an effective operation in South Waziristan while
cooperative efforts along the Afghan border have seen elimination of
some top al-Qaeda operatives and the militant organization weakened.
Pakistn has also earned appreciation in Washington for a string of arrests of senior Afghan Taliban militants.
Meanwhile, Defense officials will have meetings with their US counterparts on security cooperation.
Richard Holbrooke, US special representative for the region, indicated
at a special briefing this week that the US would enhance its
cooperation with Pakistan to help the key South Asian ally deal with
economic development and energy-related requirements. He says the
strategic dialogue will mark “major intensification” in the US-Pakistan
partnership.
According to US ambassador in Islamabad Anne Paterson President Barack
Obama’s administration is keen to have a “new relationship” with
Pakistan that would be “much broader onthan security” and aid. The
Pakistan-US ties are “getting better” and “fairly significant changes”
are in the offing shortly, she said in an interview.
Islamabad says it is fighting terror in its own interest but has also
made a number of successful efforts towards curbing violent extremism
and getting rid of terror operatives that posed threat to regional and
world security. Pakistani officials expects Washington to reciprocate
the country’s critical efforts with long-term tangible partnership in
economic, trade, energy and security areas.
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Chinese Premier Visit to Pakistan |
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Presidential address to the joint sitting of parliament |
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