CHECKLIST REX TILLERSON, US SECRETARY OF STATE, IN PAKISTAN

Quoted in Pakistan media: “Pakistan needs to, I think, take a clear-eyed view of the situation that they are confronted with in terms of the number of terrorist organisations that find safe haven inside of Pakistan. So we want to work closely Pakistan to create a more stable and secure Pakistan as well.”

Text of remarks to staff at the US Embassy, Islamabad: “It’s a real pleasure to have the opportunity to touch down here in Pakistan on what’s a fairly torrid pace, if you’ve been following our travels over the last few days, but a very important stop as we’ve come to the country to talk further with the leadership about President Trump’s South Asia strategy. Pakistan has an incredibly important role in that strategy. The country is very important to us. The security, the stability of the country is very important to us. And many of the solutions to the regional challenges are — have to be found here as well in dealing with the leadership in Pakistan, and so we’re here to have further discussions about that.”

Text of remarks to staff at the US Embassy, Islamabad: “We’re going to be very open, very frank about the challenges that we see, how we need to work together to address those challenges, certain things we need for the Pakistan leadership to undertake, but we also want them to understand we’re here to work together as partners, and we should be working toward the same objective. I know everyone wants a peaceful, stable, secure Pakistan with great opportunity for economic growth. We do see great opportunity for US-Pakistan economic growth as well. Having a stable environment is important to promoting the opportunities for US businesses to come to Pakistan, invest, conduct business and also to invite Pakistani businesses to invest in the US.”