Ambassador Alice Wells discusses Pak-US bilateral ties, regional security with NSA

ISLAMABAD: United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Ambassador Alice Wells Thursday discussed Pak-US bilateral relations and regional security situation with National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd) Nasser Khan Janjua.

Ambassador Alice Wells accompanied by US Ambassador in Islamabad David Hale also discussed Afghan situation in detail with the Adviser.

Welcoming the US dignitary, General Janjua stressed that Pakistan and the United Sates had a common cause in seeking early closure to the decades-old conflict in Afghanistan.

He apprised Ambassador Wells about his recent visit to Kabul where he had in-depth, positive and constructive discussions with President Ashraf Ghani and other senior government officials.

General Janjua once again welcomed President Ghani’s peace offer and termed it as a great opportunity to end a perpetual conflict. He called it as a “light at the other side of the tunnel”. The need of the hour for all of us is to work together and end the miseries of Afghanistan and its people by seeking an early closure of the conflict instead of winning it.

He assured, that Pakistan with all the regional countries and US will support the new peace initiative.

On counter-terrorism cooperation, General Janjua apprised about the ongoing efforts of Pakistan and its unswerving commitment to eradicate all forms of terrorism in its own national interest. In this context, General Janjua stressed the need for trusting each other and continuing intelligence sharing and cooperation.

Ambassador Wells agreed on the need to support President Ghani’s peace offer and to make efforts for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan through political reconciliation. United States’ policy on Afghanistan, she explained, was also meant to ultimately bring the insurgents to the peace table for negotiations on finding a peaceful and enduring solution. She encouraged good relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan which will help them to work in a cooperative framework.

Ambassador Wells assured that United States valued its bilateral relations with Pakistan and was ready to extend cooperation on all issues including the repatriation of refugees and the common objective of peace, development and stability in South Asia.