ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and the United States will hold talks in Washingtonnext week amid the persistent tension, officials said.
Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua’s visit to Washington from March 6-8 wasaimed at defusing the tension and finding “common ground”.
An official said: “She will be meeting senior officials in Washingtonaiming at improving the Pak-US ties.”
The official added that Pakistan link> wasready to show flexibility to save the alliance.
The visit comes after Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif made it clear thatPakistan link> would no more sacrifice itsinterest for the sake of the US link> . Asif saidPakistan link> wouldits foreign policykeeping in view the national interest.
The minister said if the US link> wanted peace inthe region, it should review its south Asia policy.
The shaky Pak-US ties received a severe shock when USlink> President Donald Trump suspended thesecurity assistance to Pakistan link>targetingthe Coalition Support Fund at the start of the year 2018.
Trump alleged Pakistan link> was not takingaction against the Haqqani network and the Afghan Taliban.
The US link> president claimed givingPakistanlink> $33 billion in aid. The USlink>had sanctioned $33.4 billion forreimbursements to Pakistan link> during thepast 15 years, 44 per cent of which was on account of anti-terror services.
Last month, the Financial Action Task Force discussed a US-sponsoredresolution to placePakistan link> on theterrorist financing watch-list. The Foreign Office confirmed this week thatPakistan link>will be included in thewatch-list in June this year.