ISLAMABAD, Mar 04 (NNI): The United States (US) and Pakistan are set to hold a two-day Counterterrorism Dialogue starting from March 6 in Islamabad. The American delegation, led by Christopher Landberg, is expected to arrive in Pakistan for the talks.
According to the spokesperson of the US Department of State, the inter-agency delegation will discuss a joint strategy to combat terrorism with their Pakistani counterparts.
“They will discuss the ‘shared terrorist threats facing the two countries’ and develop ‘policy-oriented strategies’ regarding cooperation in critical areas such as border security and countering the financing of terrorism,” the State Department said.
The development comes against the backdrop of increasing terror incidents in Pakistan and Washington’s assurance to help the country deal with the worsening law and order situation.
Both countries share the view that Afghan soil is being used for terrorism against Pakistan. The deteriorating relationship between Islamabad and Kabul is a result of the Taliban government’s failure to crack down on terrorists operating from Afghanistan.
The talks come amid tensions between the two countries following an arrest warrant issued against Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan by a court in Pakistan. However, the spokesperson of the US Department of State clarified that it was a problem for the Pakistani people to deal with and not the concern of the US.
The United Nations had recently revealed in a report that the Taliban have failed to fight terrorists in Afghanistan.
The talks between the US and Pakistan are expected to form a plan of action to deal with the threats of terrorism and to improve cooperation between both nations.
During February, US Department of State Counselor Derek Chollet visited Pakistan and held a series of meetings with the civil and military leadership as a manifestation of a positive trajectory of relations with the US.
“Chollet and a delegation of senior US government officials, including Counselor of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Clinton White and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Pakistan Elizabeth Horst, visited Islamabad February 16-17 to highlight the importance of our bilateral partnership and reaffirm our countries’ shared goals,” said the US Embassy in a statement.
Chollet met with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to discuss strengthening the US-Pakistan bilateral partnership, including increased economic cooperation and Pakistan’s needs as it continues to recover and rebuild following the floods.
In a meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, Counselor Chollet discussed security cooperation and counter-terrorism efforts. NNI
