WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jillani has said that the government of Pakistan will work jointly with the new administration of coming US president Donald Trump.
He was talking to journalists at a lunch hosted by Pakistan’s embassy in Washington, which was well attended by correspondents from CNN, AP, LA Times, WSJ, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Reuters, Fox News, WP, Washington Diplomat, USA Today and BBC.
Talking on the bilateral ties between Pakistan and United States, the envoy said that Trump administration is aware of the problems faced by Pakistan. He said Pakistan hopes that the US will review its decision regarding the sale of F-16 fighter jets and releasing the coalition support fund.
“Pakistan had a very comprehensive and meaningful discussion with the outgoing Obama administration. Those people who had been designated in the new US administration, knew Pakistan very well.”
“There had been a better realization of the problems Pakistan was facing in the region. Moreover, there was a convergence of interests between the two countries on number of issues likely to strengthen the bilateral relations in future,” he added.
Jillani said that Pakistan has launched a historic campaign to get rid of terrorism. He denied that Islamic State, also known as Daesh, is operating in Pakistan. He said that his country is concerned over the rising influence of Daesh in Afghanistan.
He said that the terrorist incidents in Pakistan had reduced significantly with a positive impact on economy, and the Pakistan Stock Market had surpassed the other markets in the region.
The Pakistani ambassador talking on the World Bank’s arbitration over the Indus Water Treaty, said that the team that will arbitrate between Pakistan and India over the water treaty, should be comprising of impartial technical and legal experts.
