US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, Alice Wells will have a two-day visit to Pakistan from Monday to hold discussion with Pakistani authorities on issues of mutual interest including trade, investment and regional stability.
Diplomatic sources said that the top US diplomat, who is currently on the regional trip, visited India from April 23-24 followed by Bhutan and will Islamabad from Monday to Tuesday. They said that Alice Wells will hold talks with Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood on Monday and also meet other civil and military officials during her stay in Islamabad.
In Islamabad, according to a statement by US State Department, Alice Wells will meet senior Pakistani government officials to discuss bilateral issues of mutual interest including trade, investment and regional stability. The main focus of the visit, they said, is the efforts for regional stability, as the US played a key role in defusing the recent tension between Pakistan and India, besides discussions on Pakistan's efforts for Afghan peace and reconciliation process.
In January 2018, US President Donald Trump suspended most of military assistance to Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of allowing the Taliban to use its territory for attacks in Afghanistan. The US Embassy Spokesperson Richard Snelsire told Business Recorder that the US is continuing to provide civilian assistance to Pakistan. However, he did not share further details of projects funded through the US assistance. Over the past decade, the United States, through USAID, has given Pakistan nearly $7.7 billion of funding, according to the USAID Pakistan's official website. It stated, "Pakistan remains one of America's largest recipients of foreign assistance, a sign of our long-term partnership and commitment with focus on five key areas: energy, economic growth, resilience, education, and health."
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