WASHINGTON - Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs (SAPM) Tariq Fatemi exchanged views on wide ranging issues of “common strategic interest” when he met US Deputy Defence Secretary Robert Work at the Pentagon, a press release of the Pakistan embassy said Sunday.
The special assistant and the deputy secretary of defence expressed satisfaction that Pakistan-US bilateral relationship was on an upward trajectory, according to the press release. Fatemi appreciated US support to Pakistan in dealing with security challenges and reiterated Pakistan’s determination to resolutely fight the menace of terrorism.
Both sides expressed satisfaction that the Defence Consultative Group, a working group under the bilateral strategic dialogue, had been a productive mechanism in stimulating close and successful partnership in a number of key areas.
Fatemi also briefed the deputy secretary on Pakistan’s desire to establish friendly relations with all its neighbours in the interest of building a peaceful, secure and prosperous neighbourhood, the press release said.
He outlined specific steps that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had undertaken in that direction, including extending Pakistan’s support to peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Fatemi was also received at Capitol Hill by Congressman Pete Sessions, a Republican, who is chairman of the Rules Committee of the House of Representatives.
The special assistant briefed Sessions on the state of Pakistan-US bilateral relationship, according to the press release. He said that a politically stable, economically growing and a democratic Pakistan was a strong partner of the United States. Both sides discussed issues related to bilateral security and economic cooperation and the ways and means to add further vigor to the relationship.
Welcoming the special assistant, the press release said, Sessions expressed satisfaction on the growing momentum in bilateral cooperation. He appreciated Pakistan’s resolute actions against terrorism and noted the sacrifices made by Pakistanis in the struggle against extremism.
PAKISTAN TO BUY DEFENCE
EQUIPMENT FROM RUSSIA: FATEMI
Pakistan might purchase weapons and equipment from Russia and counts on cooperation with Moscow in the energy sphere, Tass quoted Tariq Fatemi, the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, as telling reporters in Washington.
The efforts of last couple of years made in the Russian-Pakistan relations “are now bearing fruit.”
Over the last one-and-a-half years, Russia and Pakistan “made significant progress in moving forward,” he said, adding “A memorandum on mutual understanding on cooperation in defence was signed.”
“We are considering the possibility of purchasing military equipment from Russia. However, no agreements were made yet on this issue,” Fatemi said on the prospects of Russia delivering MI-35 attack helicopters to Islamabad.
The most important thing is that “Russia is capable of helping us in the sphere of producing electricity and energy”, he said.
Russia has special skills, competence and experience.
He said that “the Soviet Union was the first country that came to Pakistan to help in the energy sphere back in the 1960s.”
US DRONE STRIKE KILLS
FIVE MILITANTS
INP adds: At least five suspected militants were reportedly killed in a United States drone strike in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province near the Pak-Afghan border on Sunday.
According to a source, the drone fired two missiles on a vehicle carrying suspected militants in Lalpur district of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, adjacent to Shilman Valley in Khyber Agency.
As a result of the strikes, at least five suspected militants were killed.