Daily Times

The Biden administration on Friday acknowledged Pakistan’s sacrifices in the ongoing fight against terrorism.

During a telephonic conversation with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken recalled US-Pakistan cooperation over the years and noted that the two countries had a range of areas to engage on. He acknowledged the sacrifices of the people of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, according to a press statement issued by the Foreign Office.

The foreign minister congratulated Secretary Blinken on assuming his office. He underscored Pakistan’s commitment to forge a comprehensive partnership with the United States based on convergence of interests on a whole range of issues. Highlighting the transformation in Pakistan, the foreign minister stressed that the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has a new vision that placed premium on forging economic partnership, building a peaceful neighbourhood and enhancing regional connectivity.

Foreign Minister Qureshi told Secretary Blinken that peace in Afghanistan through a negotiated political settlement is one of the fundamental convergences between the two countries. He said it is essential to have reduction in violence leading to ceasefire and to work towards securing an inclusive political solution in Afghanistan. Pakistan facilitated the Afghan peace process and remains committed to working with the United States as a partner for peace, he said, and also highlighted Pakistan’s resolute measures as well as immense sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.

In the context of recent developments in the Daniel Pearl case, the foreign minister underscored that it was important and in the mutual interest that justice is served through legal means. He also highlighted the steps being taken in this regard.

Foreign Minister Qureshi and Secretary Blinken agreed to remain engaged and work together on advancing the two countries’ bilateral agenda and promoting common interests in the region and beyond.

In a separate development, Pakistan on Friday said it does not consider itself bound by any of the obligations enshrined in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, adopted in July 2017, and was negotiated outside the established United Nations disarmament negotiating forums. “None of the nuclear armed states, including Pakistan, took part in the negotiations of the Treaty which failed to take on board the legitimate interests of all the stakeholders. Many non-nuclear armed states have also refrained from becoming Parties to the Treaty,” Foreign Office said in a statement issued here.

According to the statement, the United Nations General Assembly, at its first special session devoted to nuclear disarmament in 1978, had agreed by consensus that in the adoption of disarmament measures, the right of each State to security should be kept in mind, and at each stage of the disarmament process the objective would be undiminished security for all States at the lowest possible level of armaments and military forces.

“Pakistan believes that this cardinal objective can only be achieved as a cooperative and universally agreed undertaking, through a consensus-based process involving all the relevant stakeholders, which results in equal and undiminished security for all States. It is indispensable for any initiative on nuclear disarmament to take into account the vital security considerations of each and every State,” it said. “Pakistan stresses that this Treaty neither forms a part of, nor contributes to the development of customary international law in any manner,” the statement concluded.