A top aide to the Pakistani prime minister is in Washington to explore avenues to cement US-Pakistan ties under the coming Donald Trump Administration following the president-elect’s call with Nawaz Sharif.
At the start of the visit Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to Sharif, told the media at the Pakistani embassy in Washington that the Trump Administration’s inception – on January 20, 2017 – is a “fresh opportunity to burnish (Pakistan’s) credentials.”
The visit follows an unusually account of candid conversation between Trump and Sharif, which has generated a great deal of interest in the American media and enthusiasm in Islamabad as to how the two countries – whose relationship has seen many ups and downs – will take forward their relations under new president.
Fatemi defended the release of the account by the Prime Minister’s office in Islamabad, in which described Pakistani leader as “terrific” and praised Pakistanis as “fantastic” people. Some American media reports and analysts took issue with Trump’s remarks as they cited United States’ complicated relations with Pakistan.
Under the Obama Administration, Pakistan has been facing intense pressure for allegedly not doing enough to stop cross border movement of militants who, in turn, fuel the Taliban insurgency and create problems for the United States. President Barack Obama chose not to visit Pakistan during his two terms as president, while making two trips to New Delhi, which Pakistan views as a major threat.
Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and Ambassador Jilani during Press interaction at the embassy
However, Fatemi cited a number of common and bilateral intereests including the fight against terror, Afghanistan stability and South Asian peace via improvement in Pakistan-India relations, where Islamabad and Washington can align their efforts.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has emerged as a strong Muslim democracy and U.S. ally in the region, and both countries have reasons to work and achieve “bilateral, regional and global” national security and foreign policy goals, Fatemi argued.
Looking ahead , Pakistan will be “forthcoming” in cooperating with new Administration in the US, in achieving peace in Afghanistan and improving Pakistan-India relationship for the sake of peace in the region, Fatemi said
Currently holing informal meetings with officials of the outgoing Obama administration in Wasington and plans to have interaction with “friends and well-wishers” in the Trump transition team in New York.
The official saw no reason for US-Pakistan differences in some Trump picks’ avowed focus on combating extremism and instead said there was a confluence of interests as Islamabad has been waging a resolute fight against terrorists.
Fatemi also commented on the president-elect’s campaign statements including his proposal to introduce “extreme vetting” of immigrants traveling to the United States from Muslim countries.
“I have some experience in what campaign rhetoric is,” Fatemi remarked.
According to a statement issued by the Pakistani embassy, Fatemi said Pakistan looks forward to meaningful engagement with the United States . He highlighted that Pakistan could play a significant role in promoting peace and stability not only in Afghanistan, but to the entire region.
On Pakistan’s fight against terror, he said the country had lost around five thousand of its army personnel and deputed more than 200,000 troops in its Northern Areas and along the Pak-Afghan border in this effort.
In the regional context, he said there is a need for a sustained dialogue process between Pakistan and India to resolve their long-standing differences including issue of Kashmir. He briefed the journalists about the widespread and homegrown uprising in Indian Occupied Kashmir which New Delhi is trying to suppress by force and with massive human rights violations. Over 16,000 Kashmiris have been injured and approx. 600 blinded by using special kind of guns known as Pellet guns.
Tariq Fatemi met with the Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department on Monday.
Accompanied by Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani , Fatemi and the US officials had a candid review of the relationship, according to the Pakistani embassy.
Deputy Secretary Blinkin expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace and stability in the region. Pakistan’s participation in the Heart of Asia Conference held in Amritsar as well as Islamabad’s earlier pledge at the Brussels Conference to provide $500 million for development projects in Afghanistan, the statement said.
The Deputy Secretary of State praised Pakistan’s generosity in hosting millions of Afghan refugees for over four decades and expressed appreciation on the recent decision to extend the deadline for the repatriation of these refugees.
Discussing the regional situation including the escalation across the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, the special assistant briefed the Deputy Secretary on the frequency of ceasefire violations by India in recent weeks with particular reference to targeting of civilians across the LoC.
Fatemi also pointed out that the massive and systematic human rights violations in the Occupied Kashmir were resulting in hundreds of casualties and debilitating injuries to the civilians including women and children. While expressing concern on the increasing escalation at the LoC, Deputy Secretary Blinken reiterated the US position on the need for reducing tension in South Asia and promoting closer cooperation and dialogue between the two largest countries of the region, the Pakistani embassy readout said.
