Sherman discusses Af situation, trade ties with Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the US on Friday discussed regional security issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, and bilateral economic cooperation as America’s deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman held talks with foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
In a tweet, Sherman said that she met Qureshi “to discuss Afghanistan’s future and the important and long-standing US-Pakistan relationship”.
“We look forward to continuing to address pressing regional and global challenges,” she said.
Sources in the ministry of foreign affairs said that Sherman visited the foreign office for talks with Qureshi on the pressing issue of Afghanistan.
During the detailed talks, the two sides agreed to work together for a durable peace in Afghanistan.
In another tweet, the US diplomat said that she also met national security adviser Moeed Yusuf to “discuss Afghanistan and areas of cooperation in the US-Pakistan relationship”.
The US embassy said on Friday that Sherman, who met Yusuf on Thursday, “discussed developments in Afghanistan and ways to advance cooperation across the bilateral relationship”.
Sherman arrived in Islamabad from New Delhi on Thursday on a two-day visit.
Meanwhile, the Dawn newspaper quoted a senior diplomatic source as saying that the “visit is taking place at a very critical time, both in the context of Afghanistan and developments in the wider region”.
It said that the Biden administration is focusing on four major points in its talks with Pakistan - recognition of the Taliban government in Kabul, international sanctions on Afghanistan, access to Afghanistan and counterterrorism cooperation.
According to the source, the US does not want Pakistan to recognise the Taliban regime before the rest of the international community.