News
Friday, August 05, 2011
Pak-US relations facing challenges: State Dept
* Toner says working through challenges and building a long-term partnership is in strategic interest of both countries
WASHINGTON: US- Pakistan relationship has challenges but remains strategically vital and that American special envoy for the region had productive meetings in Islamabad this week, the State Department said on Thursday.
“We have said all along that we recognise that there are challenges in our relationship with Pakistan, but it’s in both countries’ strategic interests to work through
these challenges and build a long-term partnership,” State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said.
Without going into specifics, the spokesman said during Special Representative Marc Grossman’s visit to Islamabad the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to shared interests in the region.
“In his meetings, in general, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the shared interest of our two countries and acting on those interests in a joint way,” Toner said.
Besides holding meetings with top Pakistani officials, Grossman also participated in the fourth core group meeting of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States.
“He also met with leaders of the core group to discuss Afghan-led reconciliation as well as regional economic development based on the vision of the new Silk Road that Secretary, Hillary Clinton laid out in Chennai,” he said, adding, “So it was a very productive set of meetings.”
Responding to a question about the movement of American diplomats in Pakistan, the spokesman echoed Grossman’s comments, saying they are able to carry out their work.
“He (Grossman) said that the American diplomats are free to travel, that there are certain regulations and requirements that the Pakistani government has informed us about, and we’ll try to figure out how to meet those,” he said, adding, “But, in the short term, our diplomats are able to carry out their work and we, as he said, are certain that we’re going to be able to work through these issues.” app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk