*WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Ali JahangirSiddiqui says Pakistan has chalked out a 15-month time frame to come out ofthe Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. *

In an interview with a foreign media outlet, he said his main focus hasbeen on promoting trade and economic ties with Washington.

Mr. Siddiqui said Pakistan has development cooperation with China, addingthat both China and the US are equally important for it.

To a question, he said terrorist activities in Pakistan have decreased by80 per cent and ruled out any specific talks with Washington for resumptionof military aid that it had suspended in January this year accusingIslamabad of supporting the very militants its forces are fighting inAfghanistan.

The ambassador said importing more US natural gas is key to diversifyinghis nation’s energy supply while expanding trade relations.

He said: “buying more liquefied natural gas from the US will allow Pakistanto bolster its exports while maintaining fairness and parity that hiscountry and President Donald Trump’s administration seek.”

“Pakistan is on its way to becoming one of the world’s largest gasimporters, and the US is well on its way to becoming the world’s largestLNG exporter,” Siddiqui added.

He said a major energy shortage has hobbled Pakistan’s economy, includingtextiles that are its prime export. Over time, more energy could helpPakistan produce more exports from agriculture to software, he added.

Speaking of the war-torn Afghanistan, Mr. Siddiqui said Pakistan is workingon a second portion of a fence at its border with its neighbor.

The fence is a clear sign of his country’s interest in ending the regionalconflict and will help Pakistan and Afghanistan equally in doing so, headded.