ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has apprised the visiting US senators that Pakistan values its longstanding relationship with the United States and that the Indian government has become a threat to regional peace and security.

“For its part, Pakistan remains ready to pursue measures that would reinforce peace, stability and prosperity in the region if the enabling environment is created by India,” the premier said while talking to the delegation of US senators on Saturday.

While referring to the continuation of egregious human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Mr Khan said: “The extremist and exclusionist policies of the RSS-inspired BJP are posing a threat to regional peace and security.”

PM apprises visiting senators of threats posed by BJP’s exclusionist, extremist policies

He asked Senators Angus King, Richard Burr, John Cornyn and Benjamin Sasse, who called on him at PM House, that the US must play its role in the maintenance of peace and stability in the region, according to the Prime Minister Office (PMO).

All the four visiting senators are members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, while Senator King is also a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Warmly welcoming the senators, PM Khan said a deeper and stronger partnership between the Pakistan and the United States was mutually beneficial and critical for region’s peace, security and prosperity.

He said Pakistan was committed to expanding its longstanding relationship with the US in all spheres particularly in the economic dimension. He expressed the hope that the visits of congressional delegations would help strengthen mutual understanding and forge closer people-to-people contacts.

With regard to the evolving situation in Afghanistan, the PM emphasised that Pakistan and the US must have deeper engagement to promote the shared objectives of peace, stability and economic development. He particularly highlighted need for urgent support to the people of Afghanistan to prevent a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse. He also called for closer cooperation to address security threats in the region, including terrorism.

Recalling collective struggles of Pakistan and the US over the decades in promoting peace and security globally, the senators deeply appreciated Pakistan’s recent contribution to evacuation of the American nationals and others from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in August.

According to the PMO, the senators reaffirmed their commitment to stable and broad-based Pakistan-US bilateral relationship. Given the size of Pakistan’s population and its geostrategic location, the US and Pakistan should make determined efforts to promote trade, investment and economic cooperation, they said.

Senators call on COAS

Later, the delegation, headed by Senator King, called on Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and discussed matters of mutual interest with him.

The army chief said Pakistan desired to maintain productive bilateral engagement with all the regional players and wished for peaceful, diversified and sustained relations. He expressed urgency for global convergence on Afghanistan to avoid looming humanitarian crisis and need for coordinated efforts for economic uplift of the Afghan people.

Gen Bajwa also thanked the visiting senators, who were accompanied by US Charge d’ Affaires to Pakistan Angela Aggeler, for their efforts in forging mutual understanding of geopolitical and security situation in view of challenges ahead.

During the meeting, current security situation in Afghanistan and bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed. The visiting dignitaries appreciated Pakistan’s role in Afghan situation, special efforts for border management and role in regional stability and pledged to play their part for furthering diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2021