During a meeting with a high level US delegation including Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford and other officials, headed by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Pakistani officials led by Prime Minister Imran Khan apparently, environment seems to have been reset for growing bilateral relations between the two countries. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, along with Chairman US Joint Chief of Staff General Joseph Dunford and other senior officials, held talks with foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Prime Minister Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa during his day-long visit to Pakistan. Pompeo congratulated Imran Khan on the formation of his government and welcomed the further strengthening of civilian institutions. He also highlighted the importance of the Pakistan-US relationship, and emphasized areas of shared interest, such as the expansion of two-way trade and commercial ties. In meeting with Qureshi, Pompeo discussed the potential for the United States and Pakistan to work together to advance joint priorities, including regional peace and stability. He also emphasized the value of strong people-to-people ties between the two nations, built on decades of cultural and educational exchanges. Pompeo welcomed the smooth transition of power to a new civilian government, stressing the importance of strong democratic institutions during his meeting with COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa. He also expressed hope for deeper counter terrorism cooperation between the two nations. It is a good development that both the countries have started looking toward a fresh start. US has reconsidered its policy on Pakistan and indicated willingness for direct talks with Taliban. New start in Pakistan-US relationship is good for peace and prosperity of the region and the world. The body language of the officials on both sides during the meeting and after was quite affirmative and heartening, something that was also pointed to by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. It shows that lingering deadlock in ties with the United States been broken. Before leaving for New Delhi, Pompeo told journalists at the Noor Khan Airbase that he had come to Pakistan to reset the relationship between the two countries across a broad spectrum i.e. economic, business, and commercial, the work that we all know that we need to do to try and develop a peaceful resolution in Afghanistan, which benefits certainly Afghanistan but also the United States and Pakistan. Pompeo was hopeful that the foundation laid during the meetings will lead to sustained success.
New start in Pakistan-US relationship is good for peace and prosperity of the region.
