*WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Aizaz AhmedChaudhry has stressed the need for deeper and wider cooperation betweenIslamabad and Washington to achieve shared objectives. *

Speaking during a meeting with top officials in the US state of Texas, hesaid bilateral relations spanning over 70 years should not made hostage toshort-term interests.

He said Pakistan is open to deeper and wider engagement with the UnitedStates and hopes that this sentiment would be equally reciprocated.

Earlier, Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White while speaking at aregular briefing in Washington had said: “So with respect to Pakistan, wehave opportunities with Pakistan. We think Pakistan can do more, and we’lllook to them and work with them to find opportunities to further regionalsecurity.”

She was responding to a question with regard to the Afghan authoritiesblaming Pakistan for terrorist activities in Afghanistan.

She said: “In Afghanistan, one, we have to remember that the Taliban andISIS, their motive is to scare people. It’s fear. And they are purposelytargeting voting registration. That is what they’re doing in order toensure — because they can’t win at the ballot box.”