Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Wednesday said that Pakistan and the United States maintain a historic, broad-based and strategic relationship which is an important factor for international peace and stability.
The Prime Minister conveyed this to a six member bipartisan US Congressional delegation, which led by Congresswoman Susan A. Davis called on him here at the PM House. Other members of the delegation included Bill Shuster, Ms Geoff Davis, Ms Kirsten Gillibrand and Michele Bachmann, representing both the Republican and Democratic parties.
The Prime Minister appreciated the growing relationship between the two countries based on shared interests and emphasised the need to further expand bilateral ties in all spheres. He emphasised in particular the need for developing greater economic and commercial relations with an early conclusion of a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) and free trade agreement (FTA) to provide greater market access for Pakistani products. "Trade, not aid, he said, is Pakistan's preferred option".
The Prime Minister also called for early adoption of legislation on the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) by the US Congress as the zones will help generate considerable economic benefits in the tribal areas.
Discussing regional and international issues, he said, Pakistan's geo-strategic location helps promote regional co-operation and it has become an anchor for regional peace and stability.
On Afghanistan, the Prime Minister said that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the best interest of Pakistan and the world, and highlighted the efforts made by Pakistan to help the Afghans. He also emphasised the need to eradicate the drugs problem and the early return of Afghan refugees.
The Prime Minister stated that the causes and solution of the Afghan problem lie in Afghanistan. The world, he said, needs to win the hearts and minds of people of Afghanistan and a marshal plan type assistance programme is needed to provide hope for a better future to the Afghan people.
Talking about Pak-India relations, the Prime Minister stressed the need for resolution of the core dispute of Kashmir in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir.
He said this will bring sustainable peace in the region and the destiny of more than one billion people of South Asia will change. The Prime Minister emphasised the need for promoting interfaith harmony. He said Islam is a religion of peace and is opposed to extremism and supports peace and moderation. Pakistan is committed to promote harmony and working with friendly countries to build a peaceful and progressive environment in the region and the world, he added.
While discussing the domestic situation, the Prime Minister said Pakistan is an evolving democracy and democratic traditions are taking roots in the country. The Prime Minister talked about proliferation of free media in the country and said this is contributing to strengthening of democracy.
The political process in the country, he said, will go forward in accordance with the constitutional requirements and the government would welcome international monitoring of the free and fair elections to be held in the country.
Talking about the reform agenda of the government the Prime Minister said good governance and transparency are the hallmarks of the government. Consistency and continuity of policies have provided strength and credibility to our policies, he said and added that the record high amount of foreign direct investment last year is a manifestation of confidence of investors in Pakistan's economic policies.
Ms Susan A. Davis and other delegation members said Pakistan is a vital ally for US and they are keen to further strengthen this relationship. Ms Davis and her colleagues assured the Prime Minister of continued US assistance and support to Pakistan in all fields.
Appreciating the government's reform policies, the delegation members praised the achievements of sustained high growth rate and development in Pakistan, which brought about a qualitative change in the country. The meeting was attended among others by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar and senior officials.
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