President Donald Trump has described the U.S.-Pakistan relationship as “very good,” saying his administration will be holding talks with the South Asian country – considered critical to a negotiated end to Afghan conflict.
“We’ll be meeting with Pakistan (officials). I think our relationship right now is very good with Pakistan,” he said.
Trump was answering journalists’ questions at the Whit House before departing for Ohio.
His remarks come amid Pakistan-India standoff as well as renewed efforts to end the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan through peace talks.
Last month, Trump had said the U.S.-Pakistan relations are much better now than they had been in the past.
The two countries are working closely to set into motion an Afghan peace process to conclude the longest U.S. war through a negotiated settlement involving insurgent Taliban that control vast swathes of Afghan territory.
Islamabad has had several parleys with U.S. Special Envoy Zalmey Khalilzad, who is spearheading talks with the Afghan Taliban.
The relations – which nosedived with President Trump’s criticism of Pakistan as not doing enough and allegation of harboring Afghan militants – improved in the last few months when Prime Minister Imran Khan pledged to help the Trump Administration in kickstarting Afghan peace process.
Trump had written a letter to Pakistani PM seeking help on initiating the peace move.
The U.S. has also played an important diplomatic role in ratcheting down tensions between Pakistan and India over disputed Kashmir region in the backdrop of a militant attack in Pulwama, an Indian incursion into Pakistani territory and Pakistan’s shooting down two Indian warplanes.
