*ISLAMABAD:* Pakistan National Security Adviser Lt Gen (r) Nasser Janjuamet with US Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian AffairsPrincipal Deputy Assistant Secretary Alice Wells in Islamabad.
Ambassador Wells is in Islamabad to discuss matters pertaining toterrorism, bilateral relations and the regional security situation.
Welcoming the US dignitary, Lt Gen (r) Janjua stressed that Pakistan andthe US had a common cause in seeking ‘early closure’ to the decades-oldconflict in Afghanistan. He welcomed President Ghani’s peace offer andtermed it as a great opportunity to end the perpetual conflict. “It’s alight at the other side of the tunnel,” he told the visiting dignitary.
Lt Gen (r) Janjua assured Ambassador Wells that Pakistan along with allregional countries and the US will support the new peace initiative. Heapprised the US official of his recent visit to Kabul where he had heldin-depth, positive and constructive discussions with President Ashraf Ghaniand other senior government officials.
Ambassador Wells agreed on the need to support President Ghani’s peaceoffer and to make efforts for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan throughpolitical reconciliation. “United States policy on Afghanistan is alsomeant to ultimately bring the insurgents to the peace table fornegotiations on finding a peaceful and enduring solution,” she said. “Goodrelationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan which will help them to workin a cooperative framework,” she hoped.
Ambassador Wells reiterated that the US valued its relations with Pakistanand was ready to extend cooperation on all issues including therepatriation of Afghan refugees and the common objective of peace,development and stability in South Asia.
Lt Gen (r) Janjua also apprised Ambassador Wells of the ongoing effortsagainst terrorism. He said Pakistan’s unswerving commitment to eradicateall forms of terrorism was in its own national interest. In this context,he also stressed the need for posing trust in each other and continuingintelligence sharing and cooperation.
Ambassador Wells also met Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua at the Ministryof Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateralrelations and discussed regional issues particularly the matters related toAfghanistan.
Both sides agreed that the momentum of peace initiative unveiled in Kabulby President Ashraf Ghani and followed up at the Tashkent conference needsto be carried forward. Mechanisms for return of Afghan refugees andstrengthening border management were also discussed. Both sides reiteratedtheir firm commitments to act against all terrorist groups that targetPakistan and Afghanistan.