Pak FM Bilawal Bhutto and Anthony Blinken of the US spoke about Afghanistan and Pakistan’s economic revival
In a phone chat with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari spoke about America’s assistance for cash-strapped Pakistan’s economic recovery and shared regional concerns, especially Afghanistan.
The two leaders met on Monday to discuss a range of topics and came to an agreement to strengthen their friendship and continue their joint efforts to advance world peace and prosperity.
Blinken said in a tweet yesterday night that the US “supports a productive, democratic, and prosperous partnership with Pakistan” and that he had spoken with Bilawal about helping Pakistan’s “economic recovery and our shared regional concerns, including Afghanistan”.
According to the foreign office, Blinken reiterated America’s commitment to the Pakistani people by stating that “Pakistan’s economic development is one of the United States’ top priorities.”
Local officials in Pakistan blame Kabul for harboring terrorists, notably the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), since the country has seen an increase in terrorist attacks.
The secretary acknowledged the suffering of the Pakistani people as a result of terrorist acts and reaffirmed US commitment to continuing counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan.
The military’s media wing said in a statement that topics of mutual interest and defense cooperation were also covered in addition to the condition of regional security. Both nations have urged war-torn Afghanistan to prevent terrorists from using its territory as a refuge.
In addition to thanking the US for its support, Bilawal stated that Pakistan was committed to implementing structural reforms in its economy to make it more competitive and appealing for business and foreign investment. The standby agreement between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will “impel Pakistan’s economic and development imperatives,” the statement continued.
Blinken met with Bilawal on the phone, according to a statement from US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, to “reaffirm a fruitful US-Pakistan partnership.”
According to Miller, “Secretary Blinken emphasized the US’ unwavering commitment to the people of Pakistan, highlighting that Pakistan’s economic success remains a top priority for the US.”
He said that Blinken had underlined that the US will keep cooperating with Pakistan via efforts for technical and developmental work as well as through strong trade and investment connections.
The IMF agreement with Islamabad was also welcomed by Blinken, who also “encouraged continued reforms to promote economic recovery and prosperity,” according to his statement.
According to Miller, “Secretary Blinken emphasized that respect for the rule of law and democratic principles are central to the US-Pakistan relationship and that these values will continue to steer this partnership forward.”
Miller said that Blinken and Bilawal also addressed the destabilizing impact of Russia’s conflict against Ukraine and the common interest between the US and Pakistan in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
