WASHINGTON (Pajhwok): The visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif in his meeting with the US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, expressed concern about ungoverned spaces within Afghanistan.
“He conveyed Pakistan's concerns with regard to ungoverned spaces within Afghanistan, from which attacks against Pakistan continued to be planned and carried out,” an official Pakistani statement said after Asif met Tillerson at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department.
This was the first meeting between the two leaders. “The Foreign Minister reiterated Pakistan's position on the need for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political approach to achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan,” the Pak statement said.
Visiting Washington at Tillerson's invitation, Asif said Pakistan and the US share a common desire for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large.
Asif pointed out that Pakistan is winning its war against terrorism.
“In contrast to other countries, the incidence of terrorism in Pakistan has seen a marked decline – with a salutary impact on economic and commercial activity. This was made possible because Pakistan has pursued a zero-tolerance and indiscriminate approach in its campaign against all terrorist and militant groups,” the statement said.
Responding to questions from reporters after the meeting, Tillerson said US Pak relationship is “extraordinarily” important regionally. The South Asia strategy rolled out by President Donald Trump, he observed, was in a regional context, and not just about Afghanistan, he insisted.
“This is about the importance of Pakistan, and Pakistan’s long-term stability as well. We have concerns about the future of Pakistan’s government too, in terms of them ….we want their government to be stable. We want it to be peaceful,” Tillerson said.
Many of the same issues they’re struggling with inside of Pakistan are American issues, he said without elaborating further. Following his meeting with Abbasi, Tillerson said he thinks there is opportunity for the two countries to strengthen this relationship.
“We’re going to be working very hard at all levels, from the State Department to the Defense Department to our intelligence communities, as well as economic, commerce opportunities as well. So it really is a regional approach, and Pakistan is critical to the long-term stability of the region,” Tillerson said.
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