Pakistan has expressed its willingness to engage with the new US administration to strengthen bilateral relations, the State Department said on Thursday.
“We are committed to a strong and robust relationship with the US based on the principle of non-interference in internal affairs,” foreign ministry spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan said during his weekly news briefing in Islamabad.
Shafqat Ali welcomed the swearing-in of President Donald Trump and emphasized the importance of the US-Pakistan relationship, which covers several areas. “We look forward to continuing the positive trajectory of these relations,” he added.
The spokesman also highlighted Pakistan’s concerns over the presence of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) sanctuaries in Afghanistan. “We continue to press the Afghan authorities to address these concerns so that the bilateral relationship can reach its full potential,” Khan said.
On the Kashmir dispute, Khan reiterated Pakistan’s clear position, citing world awareness of the “campaign of repression unleashed in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir”. He assured that Pakistan will support any effort aimed at resolving the dispute.
Regarding the Indus Water Treaty, Shafqat Ali stated that Pakistan remains committed to its full implementation, including the dispute settlement mechanism. He expressed hope that India will also implement the treaty in good faith and in its entirety.
In response to a question, Shafqat Ali Khan mentioned an agreement with the US to resettle Afghan refugees in the US by September this year. “This arrangement is in place for now,” he said.
