October 25, 2017
News
Pakistan reassures US on fight against terror
*Abbasi says Pakistan as a strategic partner of US is fighting the largest war in the world against terrorism and has already ‘produced results’ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday reconfirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the ‘war on terror’ saying his country had ‘produced results’ fighting the militants, as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pressed Islamabad to increase its efforts to eradicate terrorists operating within the country.
“We are committed in the war against terror,” Abbasi told Tillerson, as the two men sat facing each other on a long table. “We have produced results. And we are looking forward to moving ahead with the US and building a tremendous relationship,” added Abbasi, who sat next to army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
“The US can rest assured that we are strategic partners in the war against terror and that today Pakistan is fighting the largest war in the world against terror,” Abbasi said. “We appreciate the understandings that we agreed and we appreciate the engagement.”
A US Embassy statement issued after the meeting said that Secretary Tillerson discussed continued bilateral cooperation and partnership, expanding economic ties between the United States and Pakistan as well as Islamabad’s ‘critical role’ in the region. “The secretary reiterated President Trump’s message that Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country. To address those concerns, the secretary outlined the United States’ new South Asia strategy and the vital role that Pakistan can play in working with the United States and others to facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan that can bring stability and security to the region,” the statement read.
“The secretary noted that Pakistan and the United States share common interests in establishing a stable, peaceful Afghanistan, defeating ISIS in South Asia, and eliminating terrorist groups that threaten both Pakistan and the United States.” It added.
“In all meetings with Pakistan’s leaders, the secretary expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. The secretary also expressed his gratitude to the Government of Pakistan and the Pakistan Army for their cooperation in securing the release of the Boyle-Coleman family from captivity,” it concluded.
During a short part of the meeting available to media, Tillerson told the Pakistani delegation that the nuclear-armed nation was an important US ally in the region.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk