News
Monday, March 15, 2010
US officials due for discussions on Pak-US strategic talks
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Preparation for the Pak-US strategic dialogue will kick off from the US side with the arrival of National Intelligence Director Dennis C Blair who is expected to reach Islamabad today (Monday), diplomatic sources told Daily Times on Sunday.
According to sources, several top US officials are expected to visit before the March 24 deadline for dialogue between the two countries. Dennis will hold meetings with top local officials, including the Inter-Services Intelligence director general, to discuss counter-terrorism and work on strategic dialogue.
During the strategic dialogue in 2008, both sides had discussed regional and international issues of common interest. The US had expressed support for continued dialogue and improved relations between Pakistan and its neighbours. Washington and Islamabad had also agreed to co-operate in the fields of education and science and technology, with both sides committing to holding dialogues on energy and education. Prime Minister Gilani chaired a high-level meeting on Saturday to develop a “comprehensive, coherent and well-coordinated approach” for the forthcoming Pak-US strategic dialogue. A number of proposals, including the structured-dialogue process envisaging sectoral track cooperation with the US to review the status of ongoing programmes and projects, will be taken up in the talks.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk