It’s time for us to begin to deliver on our joint commitments: Pompeo on Pak visit

Islamabad: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who visited Pakistan on Wednesday, while talking to media at Pakistan Air Base said that it is time for the two countries to deliver on both the countries’ joint commitments.

Earlier in the day, Pompeo met with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Pompeo further said that the relationship between the US and Pakistan still has a long way to go.

When quizzed about Pakistan’s commitment that might lead to the resumption of military security assistance, the Secretary said, “The relationship military to military is one that has remained in a place where some of the other relationships haven’t, frankly. They’ve still continued to have relationships, worked on lots of projects that are important together, and I hope we can use that as one of the foundational elements as well.”

Talking about the meeting, Pompeo stated that several issues including peaceful resolution in Afghanistan were discussed.

“We talked about their new government, the opportunity to reset the relationship between our two countries across a broad spectrum – economic, business, and commercial, the work that we all know that we need to do to try and develop a peaceful resolution in Afghanistan, which benefits certainly Afghanistan but also the United States and Pakistan. And I’m hopeful that the foundation that we laid today will set the conditions for continued success as we start to move forward,” he added.

In a readout, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert briefed media about Pompeo’s Pakistan visit.

“Congratulating the Prime Minister on the formation of his government, the Secretary welcomed the further strengthening of civilian institutions. Secretary Pompeo also highlighted the importance of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship, and underscored areas of shared interest, such as the expansion of two-way trade and commercial ties,” it read.

Nauert stated that Pompeo emphasised the importance of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship, and underscored areas of shared interest, such as the expansion of two-way trade and commercial ties as well as the value of strong people-to-people ties between our nations, built on decades of cultural and educational exchanges.

“Secretary Pompeo emphasized the important role Pakistan could play in bringing about a negotiated peace in Afghanistan and conveyed the need for Pakistan to take sustained and decisive measures against terrorists and militants threatening regional peace and stability,” the readout stated.

Pompeo visited Pakistan to discuss bilateral ties between the two countries. Following his Pakistan visit, Mike Pompeo left for India for the ‘2+2’ dialogue.

[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]