Photo: Screenshot/Official White House video
U.S.-Pakistan relations and peace in Afghanistan were among key subjects that Pakistan’s ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry National Security Adviser HR McMaster discussed at a White House meeting this week.
According to the Pakistani embassy, the two officials held discussions in the light of McMaster’s recent visit to Pakistan.
“Peace in Afghanistan and broader regional stability also came under discussion,” an embassy statement said after the White House meeting.
Peace in Afghanistan was a high priority for Pakistan, especially to consolidate the gains made in Pakistan’s ongoing fight against terrorism, the ambassador said.
President Donald Trump has ordered a review of the U.S. Afghan strategy and the Pentagon is nearing completion of suggestions for the new way forward in the landlocked and strife-torn country.
The Trump Administration is likely to unveil its strategy ahead of a NATO summit of allies assisting with mission to stabilize Afghanistan – wracked by a range of factors from the Taliban insurgency, internal political fighting, incompetent governance, and the new ISIS terror threat.
Besides, regional countries including Iran, India, Pakistan and Russia are also trying to gain influence in Afghanistan – which has been a battlefield for about four decades since 198s Soviet occupation.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan-Pakistan relations remain tense and on Friday, Afghan security forces killed nine Pakistanis with cross-border shelling.
At the White House meeting on Thursday, Ambassador Chaudhry noted that McMaster’s visit to Pakistan was useful for both sides to better understand each other’s perspective on issues of mutual interest.
This was Chaudhry’s first cabinet level interaction since presenting credentials to President Trump late April.
The Pakistani diplomat also briefed the NSA about prospects of economic engagement between the two countries and the investment opportunities emerging in Pakistan after the economic turnaround.
This environment, Ambassador noted, is ideal for investment by the foreign companies including the US in energy and infrastructure development.
Acknowledging Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism, the NSA underscored the need for continued cooperation for a stable and prosperous region, the Pakistani embassy said.
