ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States have underscored the importance of a peaceful, stable, and secure Afghanistan.
This emphasis was laid during a meeting between Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and US Charge d’Affaires Natalie Baker in Islamabad on Thursday, an official statement said.
They emphasised that challenges emanating from Afghan soil must be effectively addressed to preserve regional peace and stability.
Matters of mutual interest and opportunities to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation were discussed in detail.
The Defence Minister emphasised that Pakistan and the United States share a longstanding relationship based on mutual respect and common objectives for stability and prosperity.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and welcomed the renewed momentum and growing warmth between the two countries.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation to maintain the current positive momentum in bilateral relations and to further expand cooperation in various fields.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, met US President Donald Trump at the White House in September in a high-level engagement aimed at resetting relations between the two countries and expanding cooperation on security, trade, and regional peace.
The US and Pakistan reached a landmark trade agreement in July that is expected to allow Washington to help develop Pakistan’s largely untapped oil reserves and lower tariffs for Islamabad.
