News
September 09 , 2022
Pakistan Wants Enduring Ties with US: COAS
Rawalpindi: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Thursday that Pakistan desires to maintain the tradition of bilateral engagement and multi-domain enduring relationship with the United States.
The COAS was talking to a delegation headed by US State Department Counselor Derek H Chollet during a meeting at the GHQ on Thursday.
During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security situation and bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed and both sides agreed on enhancing defense and security cooperation, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said.
The visiting dignitaries expressed their grief over the devastation caused by ongoing floods in Pakistan and offered sincere condolence to the families of victims.
They offered USA’s support to the people of Pakistan in this hour of need. The dignitaries appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for regional stability and also pledged to play their role in enhancing cooperation with Pakistan at all levels.
The COAS thanked the US for its support and reiterated that assistance from our global partners shall be vital in relief/rehabilitation of the flood victims.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a separate meeting with the American diplomat that the international community must step up its fight against climate change to avoid more deadly flooding in Pakistan.
He made the comment in a meeting with Derek Chollet, a senior State Department official visiting Islamabad to assess damages and arrange for aid in the wake of floods that have killed 1,355 people, affected 3.3 million people and made more than half a million homeless.
According to a government statement, Chollet “affirmed that the US would stand by Pakistan in the wake of this immense challenge, extend vital support, and help affected people rebuild their lives and communities.”
The meeting came a day ahead of the first American planeload expected to arrive in Pakistan with supplies.
Meanwhile, there was a meeting at the Foreign Office between Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the US State Department counselor who is visiting Pakistan while leading a US interagency delegation to meet with senior government officials, as well as civil society and private sector leaders, to reaffirm the US commitment to Pakistan during the catastrophic flooding.
Minister of State Hina Rabbani Khar was also present when Derek Chollet called on the Foreign Minister.
The counselor’s large interagency delegation according to his office, demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a broad-ranging partnership with the government and people of Pakistan.
The US interagency delegation includes State Department Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Horst, United States Agency for International Development Deputy Assistant Administrator Maria Longi, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Rebecca Zimmerman, and National Security Council Director for Pakistan Courtenay Dunn. – The News
Courtesy The News
Back to Pakistanlink Home