US, Pak break ice in ‘ frozen ties’

High- level US delegation in Islamabad amid ongoing ‘ thaw’ in bilateral relations

Islamabad, Oct. 13: Strains in the PakUS relationship appear to be disappearing fast as the two sides on Thursday agreed to continue bilateral engagement at all levels and reinvigorate relationship to achieve the common objective of defeating terrorism, the Dawn reported.

According to the report, the consensus was reached when an interagency US delegation led by Lisa Curtis, deputy assistant to US President Donald Trump and national security council senior director for South Asia, visited Islamabad and held talks with foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua and Chief of the Army Staff ( COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

The US delegation included the acting assistant secretary of state, ambassador Alice Wells, acting assistant secretary of defence David Helvey and other senior officials from the Departments of State and Defence.

In a surprising “coincidence” a Canadian citizen, his US national wife and their three children were recovered from the custody of terrorists by the Pakistan Army on Thursday — some five years after their abduction in Afghanistan. The recovery was instantly hailed by the White House.

This was the first high- level US delegation’s visit to Pakistan after US President Donald Trump unveiled a new strategy on South Asia and Afghanistan.

Foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua led the Pakistani side during Thursday’s talks at the Foreign Office. Those who assisted her in the meeting included senior officials from the ministry of foreign Affairs and other relevant departments.

“The two sides reviewed the state of play in the relationship in wake of the US strategy on Afghanistan and South Asia and agreed to continue discussions on all matters of mutual interest”, a statement issued by the foreign office said.

Noting that the US had a long track record of cooperation with Pakistan, the US delegation emphasised the importance of reinvigorating the bilateral relationship in order to achieve the common objectives of peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region. The two sides agreed to continue bilateral engagements at all levels. This was the first high- level US delegation’s visit to Pakistan after President Trump unveiled a new Afghan strategy