WASHINGTON – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has delivered the rightmessage in the United States.

He has clearly communicated that Pakistan wants relations with the UnitedStates on the basis of mutual trust and respect.

Addressing US Institute of Peace on Wednesday, he said that Pakistan’ssacrifices for peace should be acknowledged. “Safe havens of terroristsstill exist in Afghanistan.”

He said that it is improper to accuse Pakistan of problems in Afghanistan.“Pakistan will use all of its influence to bring the Taliban to the table.”

The minister said that Pakistan’s bilateral relations with the US aredependent on the improvement of the situation in Afghanistan and theirroute to Washington is via Kabul.

“Cutting off equipment and assistance that could be used to combatterrorism, I don’t know what that will help. The ‘blame game’ will not beproductive. Blaming and shaming is easy, but where will it get us? Wecannot surrender to terrorism. We have to take them on… We have to build onwhat we have achieved,” he declared.