The US State Department has said that Washington is in contact with
Pakistan, but strategic talks are not on the immediate horizon.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Pakistan and the US had
agreed to work jointly on important issues, but as far as strategic
dialogues were concerned, there was no possibility.
“We have said all along that we recognise that there are challenges in
our relationship with Pakistan, but it’s in both countries’ strategic
interest to work through those challenges and to build a long-term
partnership,” The Nation quoted Toner, as saying.
He also said that US Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc
Grossman’s dialogue during the trilateral talks in Islamabad proved
positive.
“He participated in the fourth core group meeting of Afghanistan,
Pakistan, and the US. In his meetings, in general, the two sides
reaffirmed their commitment to the shared interest of our two
countries, and acting on those interests in a joint way,” Toner said.
“He also met with the core group to discuss the process of Afghan-led
reconciliation, as well as regional economic development along the
vision of the new Silk Road that Secretary Clinton laid out in Chennai.
So it was a very productive set of meetings,” he added.
Talking about movement of American diplomats in Pakistan, he echoed
Grossman’s comments, saying that they are being allowed to carry out
their work. (ANI)
