Bilateral relations between Pakistan, US to be improved: Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Tuesday said bilateral relations between Pakistan and United States will be improved while protecting the national interests.

Speaking at the floor of the Senate here, he said United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Pakistan on September 5.

Referring to the telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Imran Khan and United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, he said the press release issued by US State Department was contrary to facts.

He said the conversation of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Mike Pompeo was very constructive and engaging in nature and what the US State Department said was not part of the conversation.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he would take guidance from the Parliament in setting of foreign policy. The views of Senate will help him in conveying his standpoint to foreign governments, he said adding the foreign and security policies should be above the partisan spirit and political differences.

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Pakistan in early September to meet with the newly-elected Prime Minister Imran Khan and other officials of the new government in Islamabad.

Pompeo and PM Khan are expected to discuss Pak-US relations and matters of mutual interest during their meeting. Afghan peace process may also be the part of their discussion.

According to an international publication, “the Pompeo mission will also help Washington and New Delhi coordinate their objectives and mission in Afghanistan”.

On September 6, top state department official of the US President Donald Trump’s administration, will depart for New Delhi.