Pakistan wants to deepen engagement with US: Aizaz

WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry has stressed the need for deeper and wider cooperation between Islamabad and Washington to achieve shared objectives. 

Speaking during a meeting with top officials in the US state of Texas, he said bilateral relations spanning over 70 years should not made hostage to short-term interests.

He said Pakistan is open to deeper and wider engagement with the United States and hopes that this sentiment would be equally reciprocated.

Earlier, Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White while speaking at a regular briefing in Washington had said: “So with respect to Pakistan, we have opportunities with Pakistan. We think Pakistan can do more, and we’ll look to them and work with them to find opportunities to further regional security.”

She was responding to a question with regard to the Afghan authorities blaming Pakistan for terrorist activities in Afghanistan.

She said:  “In Afghanistan, one, we have to remember that the Taliban and ISIS, their motive is to scare people. It’s fear. And they are purposely targeting voting registration. That is what they’re doing in order to ensure — because they can’t win at the ballot box.”