WASHINGTON: Foreign Secretary Tahmina Janjua has emphasised the importance of structural dialogue between Pa
kistan and the US to continue efforts against terrorism.
Talking to journalists at the Pa
kistani embassy in Washington, Janjua termed Pak-US alliance against al Qaeda and other terror
ist groups as produvtive. She said maintaining relations with Pa
kistan is as important for the US as are Islamabad’s linkages with its Western ally.
Highlighting Pa
kistan’s efforts against terrorism and extremism, the foreign secretary stressed on regional cooperation and integration as a bulwark against terrorist elements. She said th
at China-Pa
kistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is part of the grand Belt and Road Initiative which aims at knitting the region in a cohesive unit in order to do away with mutual differences.
The foreign secretary, who is currently on a crucial visit to Washington as part of an endeavor by both sides to work together, said the US wishes to continue engagement with Pa
kistan.
Earlier, Alice Wells, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, had said, “I think we’re in the beginning of a process with the Pa
kistani government. We have a series of high-level exchanges planned. Foreign Secretary Janjua is here in Washington for important meetings. There will be a very intensive dialogue through both our military and civi
lian channels to discuss how we can work together.” “We’re certainly not walking away from Pa
kistan,” she stressed.
Asked if Washington had noticed any improvements in Pa
kistan’s behaviour in terms of action against terrorism and militancy, Wells had said the US had ‘not seen decisive and sustained changes yet’. “But certa
inly, we are continuing to engage with Pa
kistan over areas where we think they can play a helpful role in changing the calculus of the Taliban,” she had said.
Published in Daily Times, March 9th 2018.
