NEW YORK: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met US Vice-President Mike Pence on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, with two sides resolving to remain engaged and carry forward the relationship that has been on a downward trajectory since announcement of the US policy for Afghanistan and South Asia.
It was the highest contact between the two countries since Trump announced his new policy on Afghanistan and South Asia on August 21 in which he had warned Pakistan for its alleged support to terrorist groups and warned Islamabad of consequences if it continues to do so. After the policy announcement, Pakistan had postponed the then planned bilateral interactions.
“It was a good meeting,” Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua told reporters after 45-minute long meeting between Abbasi and Pence. Responding to questions, she termed the progress made at the meeting as an ‘ice-breaker’. She said it was agreed that the United States would send a delegation to Pakistan in October to continue the talks.
Earlier in the opening remarks, US vice-president greeted Prime Minister Abbasi on behalf of President Donald Trump. He recalled the new strategy articulated by Trump on South Asia and said the US valued its relationship with Pakistan as a long term partnership for security in the region.
To another question, the foreign secretary said the prime minister expressed concern over the greater role that the new policy advocated for India.
She said the prime minister elaborated the points raised by the National Security Committee in which Pakistan categorically rejected allegations contained in President Trump’s speech, saying ‘scapegoating Pakistan will not help bring stability to Afghanistan’. Welcoming the Pakistani prime minister, Vice-President Pence said, “We look forward to exploring ways so that we can work even more closely with Pakistan and with your government to advance security throughout the region.”
Prime Minister Abbasi thanked Pence for his invitation and said he too looked forward to discussing issues of mutual interest, especially the war against terror. He said, “Pakistan has been a long-standing partner and we intend to continue efforts to eliminate terrorism in the area.” “We have made our contributions … we fought a very difficult war … we suffered casualties and have suffered economic losses and that is the message that we bring to the world,” he said.“We are partners in the war against terrorism.”
