NEW YORK: Speaking to New York based Pakistani journalists at Pakistan’s consulate in New York, Pakistani Ambassador to the US, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry stated that Pakistan and the United States are working hard to find ‘common ground’ in the fight against terrorism so that relations between the two countries could be brought back on track. General Raja Ali Ejaz was at the Ambassador’s side during the event.
Elaborating on the matter, the Ambassador said that despite challenges, efforts were being made to rebuild confidence between Islamabad and Washington. He expressed optimism in this regard, saying that there was a desire on both sides to improve bilateral relations. He also cited history to justify his positive attitude, saying that there had been ups and downs in US-Pakistan ties over the past 70 years but the two countries always managed to overcome their differences and take partnership to a higher level. Ambassador Chaudhry stated that Pakistan wanted to remove all misunderstandings between the two countries, and that the US and Pakistan had a broad-based relationship which encompassed a wide range of areas of cooperation. He also urged Pakistani-Americans to serve as a bridge between the two countries.
Referring to the recent high-level meetings between the two countries, he said that the two countries were closely engaging on the situation in the region, especially to bring about peace and stability in Afghanistan.
“We want peace in Afghanistan because Pakistan has suffered from instability in that country,” he said. But there was no military solution to the conflict and the only way to restore peace in Afghanistan was through a comprehensive, intra-Afghan dialogue.
The Ambassador lauded Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations, saying that they had driven militant groups out of the country and eliminated terrorist safe havens in the tribal areas. He said that Pakistani security forces were now consolidating the gains they have made, but challenges remain.
Citing US reports, the Ambassador said that 43 percent of Afghan territory was not under control of the government in Kabul. He said that such lawless areas were now open to anti-Pakistan militant groups. He stressed on the need to stop this phenomenon.
Ambassador Chaudhry urged Pakistani-Americans to serve as a bridge between the two countries.
Published in Daily Times, December 16th 2017.
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