WASHINGTON: Strong ties between Pakistan and the United States serve the cause of peace and stability in South Asia and the region beyond and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is looking forward to a mutually beneficial ties between the two long-time allies under the administration of President-elect Donald Trump, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, said on Thursday.
“America should know that Pakistan of today is a reliable, effective and serious partner of the United States in South Asia and the region beyond,” Syed Tariq Fatemi, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs said in an exclusive interview with APP in Washington.
Fatemi said that under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sharif, Pakistan seek friendly ties with all and want to build the relationship of mutual advantage with the world at-large.
He said the United States, one of the world’s leading powers, is historically a friend of Pakistan for the last many decades during which both the countries cooperated on some of the most critical issues.
“The Trump administration should not forget the history of the excellent relations between Pakistan and the United States that serves the cause of peace in our part of the world,” Fatemi said.
Responding to a question, Fatemi said that during his informal meetings with those who are aspiring to serve the new administration, he conveyed the narrative of Pakistan that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accords highest priority to Pakistan’s relations with the United States.
“He seeks improved relationship with the United States and desire that both countries should concentrate on mutually beneficial areas.”
To a question on Kashmir, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister stated that the dispute is on the agenda of the United Nation’s Security Council. He said there cannot be peace and stability in the region without the resolution of this long-standing dispute. He said that the occupation forces in the held-valley have unleashed a reign of terror through its brutal and suppressive tactics.
Fatemi said that the United States is a major power and the permanent member of the United Nations Security Council which has good relations with both Pakistan and India, and has a vital stake in peace in the region.
“The United States must seek to promote a relationship between India and Pakistan that is in consonance with the aspirations of the two countries and also meet the aspirations of the Kashmiri people who are struggling for their just cause of self-determination,” he added.
Trump and his Vice-President-elect Mike Pence have indicated that the new administration intends to be engaged with both Pakistan and India to resolve their issues.
He expressed the confidence that the coming days and months will see a relationship between Pakistan and the United States gaining a degree of stability and improvement that will be beneficial to both the countries.
Fatemi stated that today’s Pakistan is a new Pakistan and in the last three and half years, the country has made strides in multiple areas and its achievements have been recognized by the world’s leading institutions which enjoy credibility in the financial world.
“Today the inflation is the lowest in the country’s history and the foreign exchange reserves are record high. The impact of economic growth is visible from Karachi to Peshawar and the country is poised to achieve 5.5 percent growth in the current fiscal year.”
He said that Pakistan of today now has the credential that should be appreciated by the United States which is a historical ally and improvement of ties will benefit both the countries.
Responding to a question of promoting US investment in Pakistan under the upcoming administration, Fatemi observed that investors do not follow lines of any government. They look at the government policies and the reality on the ground.
“Pakistan’s policies have been appreciated by international organizations such as IMF, World Bank, Standard and Poor; institutions are strong and the country has gained success in countering terrorism,” he said and adding that these credentials are helping attract unprecedented investments in the country.
