Daily Times

Sir: With relations between so-called old allies Pakistan and USA continuing to be pretty strained particularly during the Presidency of Donald Trump, who is more inclined towards India and considers it a strategic partner, the White House is sending senior officials to Islamabad one after the other to hold talks with senior Pakistani officials.

Latest in this row of US officials is US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Ambassador Alice G.Wells, who called on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Rawalpindi recently.

In their meeting at the General Headquarters (GHQ) they both discussed issues of mutual interest, regional security and cooperation between the two countries. They emphatically reaffirmed their commitment towards the common goal of peace and stability in the region and agreed on continued engagement on multiple levels.

The visiting US diplomat has duly commended the sacrifices and resilience of the people and armed forces of Pakistan and appreciated the role which the Pakistan Army has played, and continues to play in battling the scourge of terrorism.

Pakistan is committed and determined to the cause of eliminating terrorism, militancy and extremism in all manifestations from its sacred soil and are also playing a key role for peace and stability in war torn Afghanistan. Peace in Afghanistan is not only in Pakistan’s interest but also the region on the whole. It is good that Washington has started duly acknowledging the efforts and sacrifices of the people as well as the armed forces of Pakistan. This surely augurs well for improving the relations between Islamabad and Washington.

MOHAMMAD MURTAZA

Lahore

Published in Daily Times, July 7^th 2018.