WASHINGTON – Foreign Minister Shah Mehmoodd Qureshi and US NationalSecurity Adviser John Bolton agreed during a meeting at the White House onTuesday that continued cooperation between Pakistan and the United Stateswould be in the interest of regional peace and security in South Asia.
The Foreign Minister separately met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeoat the State Department and discussed Pakistan-US bilateral ties andregional situation in South Asia, issues, including Afghanistan.
During meeting with Ambassador Bolton, Foreign Minister Qureshi sharedPakistan’s perspective on regional and global issues.In the context of achieving stability in South Asia, Foreign MinisterQureshi briefed his US interlocutor about India’s aggressive posturing inthe region. After initially agreeing to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s peaceinitiative, the government in India had caved into internal politics.
The Minister underscored that, on its part, Pakistan remained committed toengaging India in a comprehensive peace dialogue to resolve all outstandingissues including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.On Afghanistan, the Minister reiterated Pakistan’s long held position thatthere was no military solution in Afghanistan.
He said that Pakistan would continue to support the efforts for anAfghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.Welcoming the renewed US focus on achieving a political resolution inAfghanistan, the Foreign Minister underscored that Pakistan regarded peaceand stability in Afghanistan as vital for its own long-term stability andprogress.
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Referring to Pakistan’s continued efforts to positively engage the NationalUnity Government in Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister underlined that theAfghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) providedthe most effective mechanism to promote mutually beneficial cooperationbetween both countries.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Qureshi also met US Senators Cory Booker andLindsey Graham and exchanged views on the bilateral relations and theregional situation in South Asia.
